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Parliament: Responsibility for Student Supervision Before and After School Shifts to Ministry of Education

Published March 26, 2026, 20:11
Parliament: Responsibility for Student Supervision Before and After School Shifts to Ministry of Education

The House of Representatives approved an amendment to the Elementary Education Law, transferring the responsibility for supervising students before and after school hours to the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth. This change was deemed necessary to address a safety gap that existed for children remaining at school outside of operating hours. The regulation will be implemented from the 2026-2027 school year. The proposer of the bill, Alekos Tryfonidis, emphasized the seriousness of the safety issue, pointing out that children are exposed to risks during their unsupervised time at school. The amendment aims to provide supervision for approximately half an hour before the start and half an hour after the end of classes. The initial proposal stipulated that responsibility would be transferred to school boards, however, after consultations in the Parliamentary Committee on Education and Culture, it was decided to assign responsibility to the Ministry of Education. This change was considered more effective for the smooth implementation of the regulation. The amendment was approved with 18 votes in favor and 15 abstentions from AKEL. The new regulation is expected to contribute to improving student safety and providing a safe environment for children who remain at school before and after their school hours.