Incidents of student misconduct are increasing in Cyprus schools, creating a growing sense of strain among teachers who say they are often left to manage complex situations without adequate support, the head of the primary teachers’ union POED told Alithia.
POED said educators are witnessing a “continuous rise” in cases involving disruptive or delinquent behaviour, the report suggests.
The union said schools cannot address the issue in isolation and stressed the need for a holistic approach involving multiple state services. In many cases, they said, agencies such as the Welfare Office must be engaged to provide proper intervention.
Responses from relevant services are often delayed, largely due to understaffing, leaving teachers feeling unsupported.
The union called on the Ministry of Education to implement policies that strengthen both prevention and management of school misconduct.
POED has recently submitted a series of proposals aimed at improving the situation.