There needs to be safety in public schools and the Education Ministry is forced to act at raising the security levels following the violent incidents at Platy high school, Education Minister Athina Michaelidou told the Cyprus News Agency.
'Cameras will be installed around the school grounds', she added, clarifying that the attacks occurred after class hours, part of a parents meeting function and beyond their serious nature, they cannot nevertheless be considered school violence.
'However', the Education ministry noted, 'complaints were filed, rightly so and police took over, also making arrests and moving ahead with investigating the attacks'.
Michaelidou stressed that not withstanding the Aglantzia incident, pupils need to feel safe during class hours and this end, the government is working at several levels, including prevention, creating mechanisms encouraging children to have the confidence to come forward and report on delinquent or inappropriate behaviour.
'We are working on the psychological strengthening of children', she said, but also, there needs to be practical action in dealing with situations, such as installing cameras and placing guards.
Schools must not be prisons, but places of joy, she concluded, adding however that the ministry is forced to take precautions, in this case, at Platy.