Newsroom
They already teach children in public schools. But for teachers working on temporary contracts or filling in for absent colleagues, getting into a classroom and securing a permanent job are two different things.
That uncertainty brought members of Cyprus’ three teaching unions, POED, OELMEK and OLTEK, outside the Presidential Palace on Thursday. They want stronger protection for teachers already working in schools before the appointment system changes in 2027.
Their concern is straightforward: Will years of teaching lead to a secure job, or simply more temporary work?
The Education Ministry says its revised proposal balances the interests of experienced teachers with those of candidates seeking to enter the profession. The unions say it still leaves existing staff without a dependable route to permanent employment.
What is changing?
Public schools currently recruit through two lists: an older waiting list that does not require an entrance exam and a newer list that ranks candidates using exam results and other criteria.
Under existing legislation, the older list is due to disappear in 2027. That leaves teachers who have relied on it worried about their future, even if they have already spent years working in schools.
The ministry proposes a special list, called a “closed registry,” for eligible teachers with previous service. Half of temporary contracts and substitute jobs would come from that registry, and half from the exam-based list.
But the registry would not itself lead to a permanent job. Permanent appointments would remain on the exam-based route, with experience also earning ranking points. Teachers on indefinite contracts would retain priority for school placements.
Why isn’t that enough for the unions?
The unions argue that access to another temporary contract does not resolve the uncertainty facing people who have already served in classrooms.
They say they are not opposed to appointment exams. Their demand is for stronger safeguards for existing teachers, alongside enough staff to keep schools running properly.
They also warn that experienced teachers could leave if they cannot see a secure future, worsening shortages in some subjects.
Education Minister Athena Michaelidou says the proposal recognizes previous service while allowing new teachers to enter the profession. She maintains that consultations are continuing and that there is no deadlock.
The benefits—and the sticking points
The proposal would give eligible experienced teachers a separate route to temporary work while keeping opportunities open for candidates on the exam-based list. The government also plans to remove the exam’s pass mark, using scores to rank candidates instead. That would remove the pass-or-fail hurdle, although a candidate’s ranking would still matter when jobs are offered.
The weakness identified by the unions is that none of this guarantees a permanent position. Existing teachers could remain dependent on temporary vacancies while competing for permanent posts through the ranking system.
The ministry, however, says automatic permanent appointments would conflict with relevant case law. Recognizing experience and guaranteeing permanent status are therefore two different things in its proposal.
