Statement by AKEL MP Christos Christofides and Head of AKEL’s Education Policy on today’s mass mobilisation of teachers, pupils and parents outside the Presidential Palace

 

7 April 2022, AKEL C.C. Press Office, Nicosia

Today’s mass protest demonstration of the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Pupils (PSEM), Secondary School Teachers Union (OELMEK) and the Parents’ Confederation outside the Presidential Palace sends the message that all involved educational parties, unanimously, declare to the Ministry of Education and the government that the policy of quarterly exams has failed. The scientific community of the country has the same position. Unfortunately, the Minister of Education, with an unbelievable obstinate stand, continues to defend a pedagogical crime against our pupils and education.

The Ministry of Education must immediately enter into a dialogue with the educational involved parties and political forces of the country for a new evaluation system. The Ministry should accept the mistakes that have been made and correct them.

At the same time, the other political forces, especially those in the opposition, must assume their share of responsibility. They should support AKEL’s proposal for a law to abolish quarterly examinations, which is the only feasible way to force the Ministry of Education and Culture to seriously discuss this exam system and come up with a new evaluation system. If there is another way, we are ready to listen to proposals.

Next Wednesday, we expect that the Ministry of Education will come to the Parliamentary Education Affairs Committee during the discussion of the issue we have registered for debate on quarterly examinations, with a conciliatory attitude and a readiness for a meaningful discussion and not with closed ears as has been the case so far.