Revelations confirmed about World Bank reports on Cyprus education

Statement of Christos Christofides, Head of the Education Department of the C.C. of AKEL 

AKEL C.C. Press Office, 24th April 2014, Nicosia

 

In his statements today, the Minister of Education has in reality confirmed the revelations which we made yesterday, in relation to the dangerous contents of the two Reports of the World Bank on education in Cyprus.

 

Furthermore, the commitment made by the Anastasiades government has not been repudiated in the so-called updated Memorandum for promoting proposals stemming from reports of the World Bank, indeed with a specific timetable and their enforcement by the end of the year.

 

It is also clear that the reports were prepared in close cooperation with the leadership of the Ministry of Education, without even engaging the Directorates of the Ministries and keeping in the dark until now the political forces and all interested parties (teachers, parents and students).

 

The issue is extremely serious and concerns the future of education in our country, therefore our very own future.

 

We call on the Ministry of Education finally to stop hiding the truth and elaboration of reports. Already the misguided and wrong handling of the issue for a year now, the inept involvement of the World Bank in education, as well as the complicity of the Ministry with regards the unacceptable content of the reports have led matters to a somewhat dangerous position.

 

The Ministry of Education should immediately clarify its position, in a concrete and unambiguous way, about what the World Bank is proposing. The Ministry of Education should stop hiding behind the World Bank and its experts, who they will indeed send to brief teachers and the Ministry about their positions and objectives.

 

AKEL predicted for months that we would reach this point. We warned and demanded a dialogue, both within and outside Parliament, to contribute together in order to combat the situation. Unfortunately, we encountered arrogance and authoritarianism. Maybe it is not late – even now at this stage the Ministry of Education if it wants to, can cooperate with all the involved parties in order to address the situation.