Newsroom
What started as a green initiative to give Agios Dometios Primary School its first rooftop garden has turned into a political firestorm.
The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Israeli Embassy, announced the inauguration of a “green roof” at the school as part of a long-standing environmental cooperation agreement. But instead of celebrating a sustainability milestone, the event is now drawing heavy criticism and sparking public outcry, mainly due to its timing and the involvement of Israeli officials amid the ongoing Gaza crisis.
Security and tight guest list
The school informed parents of 4th, 5th, and 6th graders about the event through an official statement, highlighting tight security measures and strict guest access. Attendance is limited to one adult per child, and only those who fill out an online form sent by the embassy will be allowed in. ID checks, bag inspections, and the presence of police and civil servants are all part of the plan.
The invitation came with clear warnings: no forwarding, no walk-ins, and no last-minute surprises. In other words, if you’re not on the list, you’re not getting in.
Tensions rise
The backlash came swiftly. Teachers’ unions and opposition party AKEL slammed the decision, not for the project itself, but for what they see as tone-deaf messaging. As war rages in Gaza and humanitarian concerns grow, critics argue that allowing Israel to co-host a celebratory event in a primary school is “a brutal provocation and callousness.”
In a strongly worded statement, AKEL accused the ministry of whitewashing Israeli policy and even suggested the event amounts to importing propaganda into classrooms. "What will the Israeli ambassador say to our kids?” they asked. “That their peers in Gaza are being killed for their land?"
Ministry’s response: "Let’s not overreact"
Education Minister Athina Michaelidou responded by calling for calm. She acknowledged that the timing of the event "may not be ideal" and admitted that the situation is “interconnected with many other things happening in our region.” But she also defended the project as part of the ministry’s broader environmental education goals and emphasized that participation is entirely optional.
“This is a purely educational initiative, not a political one,” she told the Cyprus News Agency. She added that the event was never finalized, and the ministry is now reconsidering the date, possibly moving it to the start of the next school year.
Michaelidou also stressed that such collaborations are nothing new: “The ministry works with many international partners under similar agreements.”
For now, the green roof still sits atop Agios Dometios Primary, but whether it gets a formal ribbon-cutting with the Israeli Embassy remains unclear. The ministry says it will re-examine the planning and security procedures and make a final decision later.
One thing’s certain: what was meant to be a showcase for sustainability has instead exposed deep social and political rifts.
