Newsroom
A high school principal has been reported to the police and the Ministry of Education by a student's father due to the principal's behavior toward a student with ADHD (Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). The incident was brought to light by the Sectoral Council of Teachers of the Pancyprian Equality Guild, which sent a letter to Minister of Education Athena Michaelidou detailing the unacceptable conduct of the principal.
According to the letter, the principal instructed a specific teacher to confiscate the student's personal diary and hand it over to her, subsequently refusing to return it to the student and the father. "The child, as the father informed us, was using this diary, at the urging of a psychologist, to record incidents that upset or disturbed him," wrote Alexios Savvidis, President of the Sectoral Council of Teachers of the Pancyprian Equality Guild.
"We became aware of the incident from the student's father right from the start. He first contacted us on Friday, September 20, 2024. After a thorough consultation, he filed a complaint with the police, visited the school principal, and sent a letter to the Ministry of Education requesting an investigation into the matter. I attempted, without success, to contact the principal and left a message with the Secretariat," Savvidis added.
"Since the last school year, there have been reports of similar issues."
"This action constitutes unacceptable behavior that violates the rights of the child, particularly those of children with ADHD, as outlined in the 2011 International Convention on the Rights of the Child. Additionally, reports from the previous school year highlighted cruel and inappropriate actions by the administration, including banning the student from using the restroom. These actions are insulting. The school must provide a supportive and safe environment for all children without exception," emphasized Mr. Savvidis.
The teachers' branch of the Pancyprian Equality Guild is calling for the appointment of an investigating officer "to examine the incident resulting from the principal's authoritarian behavior for potential disciplinary or criminal offenses. It is essential to ensure that all students are treated with respect, sensitivity, and care."
