Newsroom
A group of five Afghan-origin children were sent home from Engomi A’ Primary School after arriving with visible skin warts, despite presenting a doctor's note indicating the condition was in remission. The incident, which occurred late last month, has sparked both an official investigation and sharp division among parents.
The Ministry of Education is awaiting findings from a probe launched by the Municipal Education Department. Speaking on SPOR FM, Education Minister Athina Michaelidou confirmed that although the children arrived with medical clearance, a second opinion from a Ministry of Health physician was requested “due to the visibility of the symptoms,” which caused unrest among parents and staff.
The decision to keep the children home and their transfer from another school late in the academic year remain under scrutiny.
The Parents’ Association sent a formal letter to authorities on April 30, urging immediate action, citing concerns over potential spread of the virus within the school’s 325-student population. They called for precautionary measures, including possible remote learning, until any risk of transmission had passed.
However, another group of parents pushed back, accusing the Association of breaching privacy laws and stigmatizing the children. In a complaint to both the Children’s Rights Commissioner and the Personal Data Protection Commissioner, they allege that a May 1 letter circulated via Viber disclosed sensitive medical and family information, indirectly referencing the children’s socioeconomic background.
“This public disclosure,” the group wrote, “has triggered social unrest and intensified the children’s stigmatization and exclusion.”
They are calling for an immediate investigation into potential data protection violations and for safeguards ensuring a safe, inclusive environment for all students.
The Ministry of Education has yet to issue an official decision as tensions at the school remain high.
