A total of one hundred schools across all districts now operate closed-circuit surveillance systems, according to Education Minister Athina Michaelidou. The information was provided in response to a parliamentary question from Larnaca MP Andreas Apostolou. Installation began in December 2024 and will continue, with an additional fifty schools set to receive CCTV systems during 2026.
Current distribution of installations
Cameras have been installed in:
• 40 schools in Nicosia
• 28 in Limassol
• 17 in Larnaca
• 8 in Famagusta
• 7 in Paphos
The next phase of installation is planned for approximately fifty additional schools that have been classified as high-risk. Implementation will depend on formal requests submitted by School Boards and the availability of funding.
Selection criteria
School Boards initiate the process by submitting requests to the ministry. Selection is based primarily on risk assessments, including the frequency of vandalism, deliberate property damage and break-ins. The nature of the surrounding area is also taken into account.
Authorities additionally review the annual repair costs of school infrastructure and the expenses associated with night-time security services. The expansion of CCTV systems in future years will depend on forthcoming requests and budget allocations under the new financial year.
Effectiveness of the measure
According to updates received by the ministry from School Boards and school leadership, CCTV installation has had a deterrent effect in many cases of vandalism. In specific incidents, footage has also been used as supporting material for police investigations.
The cameras do not operate during school hours. The minister clarified that continuous surveillance during teaching hours is not permitted under the guidelines of the Commissioner for Personal Data Protection.
CCTV systems are activated only outside school operating hours, from the end of the school day until the beginning of the next. Their operation follows scheduled programming and is adjusted depending on activities taking place on school grounds, with the goal of minimising intrusion into the privacy of students, parents, staff and visitors.