MPs from the House education committee visited Kaimakli schools on Friday to address concerns raised by parents and students regarding a significant demographic alteration in the area.
- MPs from the House education committee visited Kaimakli schools on Friday to address concerns raised by parents and students regarding a significant demographic alteration in the area.
During their visit, MPs Pavlos Mylonas, Demetris Demetriou, Christos Christofides, and Chrysis Pantelides were joined by Nicosia mayor Charalambos Prountzos, representatives from the teachers’ union Poed, and local school boards. Their focus was primarily on the third primary school and third nursery school, which have experienced notable shifts in their student populations.
Mylonas highlighted the stark statistics, stating, “There are serious problems regarding the demographic alteration of the area and the fact that at the nursery school there are six Greek Cypriot children and 170 children from third countries.” This dramatic shift indicates a broader trend, with more than half of the pupils in the local primary schools coming from immigrant backgrounds.
Teachers in the area are reportedly making commendable efforts to teach Greek and create an inclusive learning environment. However, Mylonas pointed out that challenges persist, often stemming from communication barriers between teachers and families of immigrant students. Many parents are either working long hours or face obstacles in visiting the schools, which complicates the educational experience for their children.
“We were told that many Arabic-speakers move their children from other areas to this school because it has the most Arabic-speaking children,” Mylonas elaborated, shedding light on the dynamics at play. He noted the request for an interpreter to facilitate better communication, acknowledging that, although rare, there are instances where some parents refuse to engage with the school.
Despite the challenges, Mylonas emphasised that there is a concerted effort to tackle these issues. He expressed concern over the complexity of the situation, stating, “I sincerely believe that solving the problems is extremely difficult due to the creation of a large community there from a specific Arab country and region.”
The visit also highlighted the need for social initiatives beyond the school environment to foster better communication with parents. “The Cypriot residents of the area also need support,” Mylonas remarked, underlining the multifaceted nature of the challenges faced in Kaimakli.
