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Authorities in Cyprus announced strict and exemplary punishments for students exhibiting delinquent behavior on school buses, following a wide-ranging meeting at the Ministry of Transport on Wednesday.
The meeting included Minister of Transport Alexis Vafeadis, Minister of Education Athina Michaelidou, representatives from the Pancyprian Confederation of Parents’ Associations of Public Secondary Schools, and the Police. It was prompted by increasing incidents of violence, vandalism, and general delinquency on certain school bus routes, which in some cases led to service suspensions.
Minister Vafeadis emphasized the importance of student safety: “Any episode of delinquency on buses can escalate into a loss of bus control and, consequently, lead to very tragic results.”
He outlined preventive and monitoring measures, including increased supervision on targeted routes and stricter inspections. He warned: “Intense actions will be taken to identify and punish offenders as examples, and parents will be called upon to pay for the damages, which are reaching very high levels.”
Vafeadis stressed the value of student transportation: “It must be safeguarded. We cannot tolerate smoking on buses. No parent accepts their child being in a confined space with others smoking next to them. And this is the least of the problems we face.”
Minister Michaelidou supported these measures, highlighting zero tolerance for violence and delinquency: “We will not allow and will have zero tolerance for violence and delinquency on school bus routes.” She also emphasized education and awareness: “To our children, we will provide this type of information, as well as to parents, so that together we can act preventively.”
Loizos Konstantinou, President of the Pancyprian Confederation of Parents’ Associations, endorsed the measures: “Safety is above all for us, and we will not tolerate anyone putting anyone at risk on the buses. Tolerance is over.” He added that it is fair for parents to cover damages caused by their children: “We must be a responsible society, and this applies to both parents and students.”
