Newsroom
For decades, families of children with disabilities have had to navigate a special education system that too often expects the child to fit around its rules. The government says it now wants to turn that approach on its head.
The Council of Ministers is set to approve a new special education bill on Wednesday, with President Nikos Christodoulides describing it as a fundamental change in the system’s philosophy.
The central promise is simple: support should be shaped around the individual child, not determined by a one-size-fits-all process.
Under the proposed reform, children with disabilities and pupils requiring additional assistance would receive more personalized support based on their needs and abilities. Parents would also be given a stronger role in decisions affecting their children, while assessment and support procedures are expected to become clearer and more transparent.
Another significant change concerns children attending mainstream schools. The bill would protect their right to receive a school-leaving certificate, addressing a longstanding distinction that can follow young people well beyond the classroom and affect their employment or further education prospects.
“After decades, we are changing the philosophy of the system and putting the child at the center," Christodoulides said in a video message posted on X.
The President said the aim is to build a more modern and inclusive school that adjusts to each child, rather than asking every pupil to progress in exactly the same way.
For parents, however, the real test will come after the announcements.
Families will want to know how quickly children will be assessed, who will decide what support they receive, whether enough trained teachers and school assistants will be available, and how disagreements with official decisions can be challenged.
A personalised plan offers little comfort if a child spends months waiting for help or if schools lack the staff needed to put that plan into practice.
The legislation comes after years of criticism from parents and disability advocates over delays, inconsistent decisions, and a system governed by legislation dating back more than a quarter of a century.
Cabinet approval is an important step, but it does not immediately change what happens in classrooms. The bill must still go before Parliament, where its provisions and the resources required to deliver them will face further scrutiny.
Christodoulides presented the reform as part of the government’s broader effort to modernize public institutions and correct longstanding problems.
But for the families directly affected, success will be measured far more practically: whether their child is understood, receives help on time, and is given the same opportunity to learn, graduate, and build an independent future.
