The Education Minister is unprepared to deal with the situation
Statement by Christos Christofides, Head of the Education Affairs Bureau of the C.C. of AKEL
AKEL C.C. Press Office, 13th November 2020, Nicosia
The latest developments in the field of Education naturally create strong concerns and raise questions. These concerns are fueled by the unprecedented government approaches such as giving students blankets to deal with the cold during the winter months. There are serious questions that demand serious and convincing answers:
– Our schools remain unprepared for a meaningful and effective distance learning. Our school’s notorious technological upgrading has remained a mere slogan.
– Does the fact that the third-lyceum school students in two provinces continue with distance learning, together with the problems that we know exist, create or does it not create a disadvantage in relation to the all-Cypriot exams at the end of the year?
– In these conditions, will the Ministry of Education continue to insist on examinations at the end of every four months, bearing in mind the difficulties, but also the inequality that is developing?
– Has access to technology, and therefore distance learning, been ensured for all school students without exception? Or will we again witness school students being excluded from the educational procedure and social marginalization of our pupils whose families are facing economic problems?
– Why hasn’t there been policy to support Specialised Unified Education so far, which is facing additional problems due to the pandemic?
We express AKEL’s deep concern and reflection about the fact that the Minister of Education seems yet again unready and unprepared to address the situation. Unfortunately, our children are victims of the government’s sloppiness and unpreparedness.
