school closure — Parents of secondary school pupils are demanding that schools close for the entire day on Wednesday due to a teacher strike, emphasising the challenges faced by 48,000 students trying to reach their schools in time.
Parents’ Emergency Meeting
The Pan-Cyprian Confederation of Parents’ Associations of Public Secondary Schools convened an emergency session on 16 November to address the implications of the upcoming strike announced by OELMEK. This work stoppage is scheduled from 7:30am to 11:00am on Wednesday, 19 November, coinciding with the parliamentary education committee’s discussions on draft regulations regarding teacher and educational work evaluation.
Logistical Challenges for Students
Parents argue that it is logistically impossible for many of the 48,000 affected pupils to arrive at school by the 11:00am mark. The confederation highlighted that over 55% of students rely on school buses for their commute, making timely arrival a significant issue.
Impact on Working Parents
Additionally, the parents pointed out that expecting 96,000 parents to leave their jobs at 11:00am to transport their children to school is unrealistic. This situation has raised concerns about potential dysfunction in the school system and the unequal treatment of pupils who would be unable to attend.
Call for Universal School Closure
In light of these challenges, the confederation has formally requested the education ministry to consider their position and endorse a full-day closure of schools. They believe that having a small number of students present after 11:00am serves no real educational purpose.
Balancing Rights and Education
The parents expressed their respect for the right to strike, which is protected under Article 27 of the constitution of Cyprus. They also acknowledged the importance of freedom of association as per Article 21(2). However, they stressed that the right to education, enshrined in Article 20, must be upheld and should not be compromised due to industrial actions.
“We fully respect institutions and the right to make demands, but we do not in any case advocate for the loss of teaching time,” the parents stated. They emphasised that children deserve uninterrupted education and that conflicts involving trade unions should not detract from this fundamental right.
Hope for Resolution
The confederation remains hopeful that even at this late stage, a resolution regarding the evaluation of teachers and educational work can be reached through ongoing discussions in the House of Representatives. They believe a positive outcome could alleviate the distress caused by such protests.
