Teachers in Cyprus are once again sounding the alarm over violence and delinquency in schools, with secondary education educators calling for sweeping security measures and structural changes to address what they describe as a persistent and escalating problem.
At the centre of the debate are demands for security guards and surveillance systems in all school units, alongside the creation of alternative education structures for students exhibiting extreme behavioural issues. The issue was revisited during a recent meeting of the Pancyprian Conference of General Representatives of OELMEK, which urged the state to move beyond repeated discussions and adopt concrete measures.
Alternative structures for high-risk behaviour
According to teachers, existing policies and programmes aimed at students with serious and recurring delinquent behaviour have failed to deliver meaningful results. As a result, they are calling for alternative educational programmes outside mainstream school units, to be established in all districts, for students displaying severe aggression and bullying.
Such cases, they argue, disrupt the functioning of schools and undermine the learning process for the wider student body.
A pilot programme of this nature is already operating in Nicosia. Despite initial difficulties in securing suitable premises, two groups of students have completed the programme and returned to their schools. A new intake of five students is expected in January. A similar structure is planned for Limassol, with the Ministry of Education indicating that it should become operational within the first quarter of 2026, although details regarding its location have yet to be announced.
Security back on the agenda
School safety remains a key concern for educators. Teachers are calling for the deployment of security guards in all schools on a 24-hour basis, covering both school hours and out-of-hours periods. They are also renewing demands for closed-circuit surveillance systems to prevent vandalism, stressing that cameras would operate only outside working hours and in full compliance with data protection regulations.
According to figures from the Ministry of Education, cameras have already been installed in 100 schools within the past year, 40 of them in Nicosia. A further 50 schools are scheduled to be equipped with surveillance systems in 2026.
Emergency response unit under scrutiny
Special reference was made to the Immediate Intervention Team, which teachers say requires urgent reorganisation and reinforcement. OELMEK is calling for proper staffing and clear operational guidelines, so that the team can intervene promptly and effectively in serious incidents rather than operating on an ad hoc basis.
Additional demands include closer cooperation with the police, through regular patrols and presence in schools classified as high risk, as well as explicit legal backing from the Ministry of Education for decisions taken by teachers’ associations and disciplinary boards.
For educators, the message is clear. Without decisive action, violence and delinquency will continue to erode the safety and stability of Cyprus’ schools, leaving both teachers and students increasingly exposed.