The budget of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth for 2026 has increased by 4%, while the development budget has increased by 11%. In total, regular budget expenditure amounts to 80%, of which 84% is for payroll, and development expenditure amounts to 20%.
Regarding the bill for teacher evaluation, Prime Minister Athina Michaelidou said that she expects the Parliament to follow the democratic procedures, to discuss, to make any amendments deemed necessary and to go to the Plenary "so that we all assume our responsibilities". Regarding air conditioners, he said that by the end of 2026 they will be installed in all schools.
The budget was presented today before the Parliamentary Finance Committee by Minister Athina Michailidou, developing the main actions and priorities of the Ministry.
In her statements after the Committee, Mrs. Michailidou said that she presented today to the parliamentary Finance Committee the budget of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth for 2026 in a "particularly constructive and creative atmosphere".
As he said, the educational reform is progressing gradually and with a plan in the database of scientific documentation, with vision, know-how and political will, "we are implementing a holistic strategy that touches all levels of education by connecting knowledge with skills and with values".
"Our goal is the smooth transition to a modern human-centered school that evolves, cultivates creativity and strengthens the mental resilience of our children, utilizing the possibilities of the digital age," noted the Minister of Education.
He said that this year's budget is increased by 4% in total compared to 2025 and the development budget is increased by 11%. "It maintains the consistency and continuity of our educational policy, focusing on enhancing the quality of education and continuously improving learning outcomes," he said.
Mrs. Michailidou added that the biggest increases reflect the Ministry's emphases and concern special education with new support structures and upgraded intervention services, the prevention and treatment of violence and delinquency, the expansion and upgrading of optional all-day schools, preschool education, the digital transition of schools with new tools and teachers and students, the strengthening of infrastructure with new and renovated school buildings, sports and youth with new talent enhancement plans and participation programs.
"We are expanding in 2026 intervention prevention programs from pre-primary to secondary education, while we are expanding financial literacy in the school curriculum," he said and added: "2026 is the year of important projects, as I mention indicatively, the shift to skills, multi-level, amendments to the legislation on the list of appointees and on special education, the implementation of electronic administration in education, the pilot implementation of social cooperation officer in selected schools with our educational psychologist, the restoration of the institution of the working week in high school B and a series of other actions".
The Minister of Education went on to say that the Ministry's budget requires a rational redistribution of resources, targeted interventions and continuous evaluation of their effectiveness.
"Every euro invested in education must produce a substantial social and educational impact, translating into better learning conditions, better quality work and opportunities for all children," he pointed out.
"Our vision remains constant for a school that embraces every child regardless of their abilities or origins, a school that cultivates life skills, fosters creativity and prepares the active responsible citizens of tomorrow, an education system that is more human-centered, more inclusive and more modern, able to respond to the challenges of the time and support the continuous progress of our society," he said.
Mrs. Michailidou also noted that investment in education is an investment in the future of our country, an investment in our children, our youth, in the human capital that will lead our country to development, innovation and social cohesion.
The new evaluation should be discussed in the Parliament, any amendments should be made and it should go to the Plenary
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Answering a question about the subject of teacher evaluation, he said that we have been discussing it for a year since the beginning and we have been waiting for it for 50 years. "It is clear to us that we made a huge effort with the support of the Parliament, of course, for continuous convergences from one point, and then I think we all have to look at it with honesty and straightness and responsibility", he said.
"If we make other convergences or retreats, the scientificity and implementation of the evaluation plan will be at risk, the challenge is concrete: We go back to the settings of the 70s or we move forward," he noted.
The Minister of Education added that they have put in place a series of safeguards, the most important of which is the five-year period, during which, together with the teachers, we solve any problems, correct them, while she noted that no system is perfect.
"However, we must start, take steps forward, we expect the Parliament to follow the democratic procedures, to discuss, to make any amendments deemed necessary and to go to the Plenary for us all to assume our responsibilities", he said.
He added that it is now a matter of the quality of the educational system and it is not only about the evaluation of individuals, but about improving the teaching and learning conditions.
A more human-centered policy is imposed, said G. Karoullas
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DISY Member of Parliament Giorgos Karoullas in his statements after the session said, among other things, that the policy of the Ministry of Education regarding the education system must become more human-centered.
Although there are continuous increases in the available resources, mainly in personnel, chronic problems are there and in uncertainty", he said and added that there is a weakness in terms of effectively managing and dealing with violence and delinquency.
He said that everyone recognizes that a main source for this issue is the strengthening of the family, and regardless of any seminars, regardless of which informational meetings are held, the Ministry of Education needs to provoke creative collaboration with other competent agencies of the state, so as to support the family as the cell that must raise children who are correct in society.
He also said that there is an absence of development planning, despite increases in the fund for technical services, for new schools, and where decisions have been made by the previous government, processes need to be expedited.
He also mentioned that what they did not hear in the committee is the essential revision of the analytic programs through the appointment of specific experts who can carry out this work.
Positive steps have been taken but there are still serious problems, says Chr. Christofidis
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AKEL Member of Parliament Christos Christofidis, among other things, stated after the committee that our education system continues to face serious systemic, fundamental problems.
"Positive steps have been taken that must be recorded, steps that have justified our own basic positions in recent years", such as the abolition of four-month exams, the expansion of pre-primary education in the right way, the abolition of the illegal purchase of services in education, the increase in the operating hours of full-day schools, but also the increase in the number of full-day schools.
He noted that the main issue facing our education today is the need in modern conditions to redefine the goals of our educational system, something that must be expressed through the curricula. He noted that we live in an era of rapid development of technology that now more than ever the emphasis must be on the human being on his skills, on how he thinks, how he synthesizes, how he analyzes, how he collaborates because the knowledge-centered part of education can now be identified with very simple movements, either with artificial intelligence or on the Internet.
A. Tryfonidis is waiting for the bill to reform Special Education
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DIPA Member of Parliament Alekos Tryfonidis in his statements after the committee welcomed the revision of the Analytical Programs and expects next month the bill for the reform of Special Education and the upgrade of school attendants, who are a "second teacher" and "second parent", the upgrade of Technical and Vocational Education and Training, where a new technical school is being established in the Idali area, while they requested the extension of branches at the agricultural technical school of Solia.
"Additionally, we touched on and have the Minister's positive response to many issues that we raise as DIPA-Collaboration since the previous school year such as the road safety course as a special course, the supervision of Primary Education students after the end of their classes at 1:05 p.m., the inclusion in the planning for the new schools, the Gymnasium in Tseri and the Lyceum in the Malountas - Klirou area, the upgrading of the school Kakopetrias, but with the ultimate goal of creating a new Soleas regional school.
He welcomed the positive outcome that will be achieved with the list of appointees and its maintenance, while on the top issue of teacher evaluation, DIPA, he said, will work hard and methodically to bring about this reform that the education system and society needs.
Larnaca Member of Parliament Andreas Apostolou, in his statements after the session, focused on an issue that concerns the province of Larnaca, specifically the establishment of the Cyprus University of Technology faculty in Larnaca. As he said, its implementation is progressing and during the budget discussion, the Minister officially informed that the bill has been completed and it is expected to be tabled in the next period, before the House of Representatives.
During the session, from the DISY side, MPs Giorgos Karoullas, Prodromos Alabritis and Savia Orfanidou focused on the issues of Violence and Delinquency, and vandalism and drugs in schools, intra-school violence, the installation of air conditioners and the issue of cameras inside and outside schools.
From AKEL's side, MPs Christos Christofidis, Christos Christofias and Andreas Kavkalias raised questions, among others, about the issues of school infrastructure, all-day schools, violence and delinquency, student sponsorship, special education and curriculum.
DIKO Member of Parliament Pavlos Mylonas and Larnaca Member of Parliament Andreas Apostolou focused on ways to improve the quality of daily life for students and teachers, the quality of programs in full-day schools between the hours of 15:00 and 16:00, the English language programs at the University of Cyprus and TEPAK.
Mr. Tryfonidis raised questions about technical high schools, the cost of teacher evaluation, and the Ministry's fund to the University of Cyprus for the construction of student residences.
In response, the Minister stated that she said that on the issue of vandalism, the Ministry has taken action within the school units by establishing committees, while on the issue of drugs a link has been established with YKAN, which has brought results.
On the topic of intra-school violence, he said that the role of the consultant-educator as well as the responsible departments to talk and discuss with the students was emphasized. On the issue of cameras, he said that those that are installed inside schools and operate after the end of classes, have already brought results and act as a deterrent, while he noted that the legislation does not allow installation outside of school units.
Regarding the air conditioners, the Minister stated that by the end of 2026 they will have been installed in all schools, while the problem that exists is with the upgrading of the facilities and that at the moment there is a shortage of workers (electricians, etc.).
On the issue of student sponsorship, Mrs. Michailidou said that she will transfer the request to the Ministry of Finance for the need to increase the sponsorship or diversify the way it is distributed.
On the subject of the costing of the evaluation of teachers, the Minister said that the cost of 12.7 million euros starts from 2027.
In relation to special education, he said that it is the most sensitive and difficult issue with conflicting opinions and positions and that the Ministry intends to bring a balancing bill that will benefit the children.
Regarding the detailed programs, Mrs. Michailidou said that it is a priority for the Ministry over a period of 5 years to reduce the material and shift to students' skills and abilities such as critical thinking.
On the subject of the English-language programs of the Universities, Mrs. Michailidou said that TEPAK is proceeding with 2 English-language programs and the University of Cyprus wants to proceed with one but is facing a legislative obstacle for which she will appeal to the Parliament.
