Students in Cyprus leave classrooms due to non-working air conditioners

On Monday, from 9:00 to 10:30, students in Cyprus left classrooms en masse, protesting against non-working air conditioners and poor school infrastructure. The action was organized by the Pan-Cyprian Student Coordination Committee (Psem), warning that protests could escalate if no prompt solutions are found.

In a letter to the Minister of Education, Athena Michailidu, Psem described conditions in schools as "unbearable," stating that students were "suffocating" and that the situation had "reached a critical point." Participants also reported daily power outages and stuffy classrooms, contrary to the ministry’s claims of full readiness for the new school year.

The Ministry of Education responded that installing air conditioning and repairing buildings at all levels of education remain government priorities, with work proceeding according to allocated budgets and schedules. The ministry emphasized that safety measures, including thorough inspections and electrical wiring updates, will not be rushed or compromised for "appearances," and urged support for efforts to improve schools rather than protests.

DISY party MP George Karullas acknowledged the ministry’s efforts but criticized the slow pace of work and non-functioning already-installed systems. He demanded a clear schedule for completing installations by the end of 2026 with sufficient funding and strict oversight and called on students to engage in constructive dialogue. His party requested an immediate discussion of the issue in the House Committee on Education.