Newsroom
Access to cool drinking water at school may sound like a basic necessity in Cyprus’ heat, but it is still not available everywhere. The Education Ministry says it is now working to change that gradually.
Education Minister Athina Michaelidou said the government plans to install drinking-water coolers in 25 public schools each year, with the long-term goal of covering every school across the island.
The program carries an annual budget of €130,000 and formally began during the 2025-2026 school year. However, work on the first 25 schools is expected to get underway in September or October 2026, following a tender prepared with the school boards.
A second tender is already being planned for another 25 schools during the 2026-2027 academic year. Those schools will be selected in consultation with school board presidents, based on their individual needs and circumstances.
Michaelidou provided the details in response to a parliamentary question from Larnaca MP Prodromos Alampritis.
Some pupils do not have to wait. Water coolers have already been installed in a significant number of schools through initiatives taken by school boards and parents’ associations. Those installations required ministry approval and had to meet technical, hygiene, and operating standards.
School boards are responsible for monitoring the water provided to students, including its quality and temperature.
The wider plan is part of the government’s effort to make schools safer and better prepared for rising temperatures, an increasingly important issue as Cyprus faces longer and more intense periods of heat.
Every child will also receive a reusable water bottle as part of an Education Ministry campaign encouraging pupils to stay hydrated while cutting down on single-use plastic.
The direction is sensible: water coolers, fewer disposable bottles, and schools better equipped for the Cypriot climate. The bigger question is how long it will take to reach every campus when the program is moving forward just 25 schools at a time.
