Newsroom
A deepening dispute at the English School in Nicosia has taken another turn, with several board members rejecting allegations made by the headmaster that they pressured him over entrance exam results. Instead, they claim a "smear campaign" was waged against a student before the exams—a campaign they say was acknowledged by the headmaster himself.
In a statement issued Friday, board members refuted claims that the official list of successful candidates published on February 24, 2025, was altered or manipulated. They insisted that the results had been validated in the presence of the headmaster and senior school staff and that any suggestion otherwise was "totally false."
However, the statement also revealed that after the results were confirmed, board members informally discussed a separate issue concerning one of the candidates. According to their account, the headmaster admitted that an organized effort by adults to discredit this student had taken place before the entrance exams.
Following this discussion, the board claims the headmaster exercised his own discretion and offered the student a place at the school—without affecting the published results. However, the student ultimately did not accept the offer.
"We categorically deny allegations of pressure from board members regarding the headmaster's decision," the statement read.
The controversy deepened when, according to the board members, the headmaster reversed his decision the following day and sent an email to board members and faculty administration, accusing certain board members of exerting pressure on him.
Adding another layer to the dispute, the board’s statement referenced their unanimous decision in June 2024 not to renew the headmaster's contract beyond the current academic year. "We cannot be certain whether this decision had any effect on his recent actions," they noted.
The statement was signed by board chair Joanna Demetriou and members Sener Hassan, Antonis Kirmizis, Tasos Kiteas, and Nicole Koulouroudia.
The issue has now reached the highest levels of government. President Nikos Christodoulides has been briefed on the matter, and according to the Cyprus Press and Information Office (CPS), the case is expected to go before the Council of Ministers next week. Officials have emphasized that any decisions will be made with the best interests of the students and the school in mind.
