Before the latest incident, it is worth recalling Dimitris Taliadoros’ previous statements on sexual education, statements that revealed a deeply ideological conservatism. From calling the law passed by Parliament on Holistic Sexual Education “unconstitutional,” to dismissing any reference to gender plurality as “these stories” that deviate from “established principles and values,” the chief of the union of secondary schools OELMEK consistently projected the image of a man fearful of modernisation.
The real paradox, however, is that he himself, as the head of the teachers’ union and principal of Kykkos High School for more than a decade, now appears to be the clearest example of why sexual and gender education in schools is absolutely necessary.
What began as a disagreement over the evaluation bill turned into a national conversation about sexism, respect, and responsibility in public discourse. With one single phrase, “A woman was found, fifty years later, to change the evaluation plan”, Dimitris Taliadoros ignited a storm of reactions. The attack on the Minister of Education, Athina Michaelidou, was not merely harsh. It was dismissive, gender-charged, and utterly inappropriate for public debate.
The reactions, from the President of the House, Annita Demetriou, and the Equality Commissioner, to OELMEK itself and women’s organizations, showed that society is no longer willing to swallow such insinuations whole. Mr. Taliadoros’ refusal to offer a clear apology, his invocation of his own “ethos,” and his accusation that journalists were manipulating public opinion only worsened his position.
But such behavior should not surprise us. Mr. Taliadoros has remained the principal of the same school for decades, repeatedly refusing transfers outside Nicosia. His public rhetoric has often been adorned with nationalist outbursts and references to “principles,” “values,” and the “liberation of Cyprus,” confirming a pattern of outlook that insists on viewing the 21st century through the lens of another era.
If the incident proved anything, it is that sexual and gender education is not merely a lesson for students. It is essential knowledge that is missing from the very people shaping educational policy. And that, unfortunately, is what is truly alarming and something must finally be done to change it.