Hector Georgiou
Students may not yet be back in the classroom, but teachers returned to work Tuesday, Sept. 1, marking the beginning of the return to normal daily life. It was not only thousands of teachers who went back to school, but also many people across Cyprus returning to work after their August holidays.
The increase in traffic was noticeable from early Tuesday, particularly on the main roads, with journey times considerably longer than they were in August. Although there was no major gridlock, conditions are expected to worsen over the coming weeks. The return of many employees to work was only the “first phase” of the return to routine.
Secondary school students are expected back in class on Sept. 7, followed by primary school pupils on Sept. 14. Their return, combined with a road network that cannot cope with the growing number of vehicles, is expected to increase traffic significantly as thousands of parents resume the daily school run.
Congestion will not be limited to the morning commute. Parents will also begin making daily afternoon trips to and from private lessons and their children’s other activities, adding further pressure to the roads later in the day.
Discussions on changing school hours
Under the current timetable, primary school classes begin at 7:45 a.m. and finish at 1:05 p.m., while secondary schools operate from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Although changing school hours has been discussed in previous years, efforts by those involved have come to nothing. The issue is now back on the table following an initiative by the Education Ministry, which intends to hold talks aimed at agreeing on a revised timetable as part of efforts to ease traffic congestion.
It will not be an easy task. Discussions will be needed with everyone involved, including parents, teachers, unions and employers, to find the right balance and ensure that any change in school hours does not create problems elsewhere.
