Dialogos

Schools Prepared for Evacuation, Safety Protocols in Place

Published March 3, 2026, 17:02
Schools Prepared for Evacuation, Safety Protocols in Place

Schools in Cyprus are fully prepared for the evacuation of students and staff if necessary, according to the Head of the Office of Political Defense, Security and Health of the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth, Dr. Elias Markatzis. Regular readiness exercises are conducted for various scenarios, including hostile incidents. Today, Tuesday, a circular with instructions for dealing with isolated hostile incidents was sent to schools, based on the Civil Defense Plan. In the event of hostilities, the first priority is to remain at school and apply specific safety protocols within the classroom. Dr. Markatzis emphasized that schools have gathering points for students, teachers and staff, where they can wait for instructions from the competent authorities. The Ministry of Education is awaiting instructions from the Ministry of Interior, the Police and Civil Defense in complex situations. The aim is to avoid panic, but preparation is essential. The circular sent today includes simplified information on dealing with hostilities, so that schools can react immediately and await further instructions.