Fidias joins protest against school mobile phone ban, low student turnout

A protest against the recent ban on mobile phones in secondary and technical schools drew a modest turnout in Eleftherias Square, with about 60 to 70 students in attendance. The protest was organized in response to the Cypriot Parliament's decision to prohibit mobile phone use in schools, a move that has sparked debate among students and politicians alike.

MEP Fidias Panayiotou, who was present at the protest, criticized the ban, likening it to measures imposed during the pandemic. “We don’t need to force students to give up their phones,” Panayiotou stated, adding that he intends to wait and see how students respond once they return to school. He also pointed out that the newly elected student board of the Pan-Cypriot Students Coordinating Committee (PSEM) had only just formed and was therefore unable to properly review the matter before the protest.

The protest saw low participation and ended around 3 p.m. Meanwhile, PSEM released a statement explaining that they had not been consulted about the protest and that they intend to wait for an upcoming meeting with the Minister of Education, Athena Michailidou, scheduled for November 11, before deciding on any future actions. The student group emphasized that while they oppose the phone ban, their concerns extend to other pressing issues, including school uniforms, excessive curriculum content, and the conditions in some underperforming schools.

The Ministry of Education responded to the event, condemning the MEP’s call for students to skip classes in protest.