Filenews 27 March 2025 - by Evangelia Sizopoulou
Reports that shock but also demonstrate the true dimension of what stems from delinquent and deviant behaviours of students and young people, both within school units and in society in general, were recorded in the Education Committee of the Parliament. There was talk of drug use by students, up to rumours of human trafficking by students. At the same time, data from psychologists show that prevention, proper investment and the synergy of psychologists and social workers within the educational framework can make a difference.
Specifically, the president of the Cyprus Association of Psychologists, Giorgos Metaxas, defending the need for prevention before the issues go away, focused on the benefits that this will have, which are not only social but also economic, as if there is a policy of prevention and proper investment, the state will save millions of euros, which it is now spending on managing the bad consequences of delinquents and other anti-social behaviours.
Mr. Metaxas provided the Committee with the following interesting data:
- According to the World Health Organization, the collaboration of psychologists and social workers in schools reduces the incidence of psychiatric disorders in children by 30%. In Cyprus, based on a survey by the University of Cyprus (2020), 18% of students experience anxiety or depression, but only 5% receive adequate support.
- International practice shows that the interdisciplinary intervention of social workers and psychologists in schools eliminates risk factors such as school dropout and crime. In Cyprus, 12% of adolescents leave school before graduation (Eurostat, 2023).
- A study by the Cyprus Institute of Education (2021) found that students with access to psychosocial services had 15% higher grades than those who did not.
- Reduction of School Dropout: Current annual "loss" from dropout: €25,000/student (loss of productivity, social benefits) (Eurostat, 2023).
- With a 25% reduction in drop-out (from 12% to 9%), the following are saved: 3% of the 90,000 pupils in Cyprus = 2,700 pupils. Annual Savings: 2,700 x €25,000 = €67.5 million.
- Reduction of Psychiatric Expenses: Cost of Treatment of Serious Mental Disorders: €10,000/ child/ year (WHO, 2021).
- With a 30% reduction in cases, the following are saved: 30% of the 16,200 children (18% of the 90,000) = 4,860 children. Annual Savings: 4,860 x €10,000 = €48.6 million.
The discussion took place in the context of the examination of the issue proposed by MP Charalambos Pazaros for the inclusion of the counselling services of social workers on a permanent basis at all levels of public education, with the president of the Pancyprian Association of Social Workers, Koullah Erotokritou, noting that this is a permanent issue. However, in addition to the need for the placement of social workers in schools, the issue of educational psychologists has once again been opened before the Education Committee, who are not enough to handle the ever-increasing incidents in schools. It was mentioned again that today one educational psychologist corresponds to 1,850 students!
Drug crushers in schools and the "sale" of female students
Another issue that shocked the Commission was the reference to the possible trafficking of persons between pupils. Specifically, on the occasion of a report by the representative of OLTEK, Lenos Loizos, that in Europe there is information about "students who sell their classmates for a fee", the statement of the president of the Association of Social Workers and the president of the Education Committee that something similar, unfortunately, is heard to be happening in Cyprus caused a shock.
Regarding the drugs and other substances that have long passed through the gates of schools, the president of OELMEC, Dimitris Taliadoros, said that even a cracker was found in a school, which immediately contacted the Anti-Drug Service. On the part of the Ministry of Health, it was said that in the last three years, the Service referred 70 students (minors) to therapeutic centers, who were arrested.
Mr. Taliadoros also referred to the lack of educational psychologists for students aged 18 and over. As he said, "we went to an Evening School and heard that they do not have an educational psychologist, because the students are over 18. Evening schools are "extremely dangerous" and it is impossible not to have a psychologist. Only a clinical psychologist can see them."
The need for the recruitment of more educational psychologists was also addressed by the general secretary of POED, Harris Charalambous. "In order for there to be changes, another 50-60 educational psychologists will have to be appointed. There was a case in a school where the mother of two children died, we were communicating with the PSE and there was no response. As a result, a teacher took the children home with her for three days. So that they don't stay on the street and so that they don't go hungry. There is an issue, because we do not have the appropriate number of competent persons," said Mr. Charalambous.
