"As long as the decisions of the Pancyprian Conference of General Representatives (PSGA) and the rights of all affected teachers are not safeguarded, the abolition of the Lists of Appointees in 2027 cannot be accepted." This is the final position of OELMEK, as it emerged yesterday from the Central Board of Directors, after examining the data surrounding the proposal of the Ministry of Education.
With a particularly detailed text, OELMEK explains its position on the working document submitted by the Ministry on the teacher appointment system, noting that this proposal does not correspond to the decisions of the PSGA regarding the safeguarding of the affected teachers.
The conclusion of the organization is as follows: "OELMEK considers it positive that the Ministry recognizes, albeit belatedly, the need to revise the 2015 legislation and the distortions that have arisen from its implementation. This proposal, however, does not correspond to the decisions of the PSGA in terms of safeguarding the affected teachers and, at the same time, introduces new regulations that exacerbate uncertainty and create new distortions and injustices."
In particular, it states that it does not ensure the right of permanence of teachers on the Appointee List, does not provide the necessary guarantees to teachers of indefinite duration, contract staff and replacements, does not ensure in a clear and adequate way the already successful candidates in the Appointee Lists and introduces a system of frequent review that intensifies job security and creates new distortions.
The organization called on the Ministry to come back with a revised proposal, which essentially addresses the distortions of the current system, without creating new injustices or victimizing any category of teachers.
"OELMEK does not deny the need to change the Appointment System. On the contrary, it considers that its reform is now necessary. The reform, however, cannot be planned solely in terms of immediate coverage of staffing needs. A permanent, sustainable, meritocratic and predictable framework is required, which on the one hand will give real prospects to young teachers in a safe working environment and on the other hand will essentially recognize the educational experience of contract workers, substitutes and teachers of indefinite duration, providing them with secure job prospects and the possibility of becoming permanent. At the same time, the State must immediately proceed with the approval of additional permanent positions in Education, in order to reduce the job insecurity experienced by hundreds of teachers, who have been serving for years in the public school", notes OELMEK.
"He will not remain apathetic and will react dynamically''
OELMEK clarifies that it will participate creatively and responsibly in the dialogue, submitting documented suggestions "for an Appointment System that will combine meritocracy, transparency and maintaining a high level of selection of teachers with the essential protection of those already serving and the effective staffing of public schools". However, it emphasizes that if these basic conditions are not ensured, "it will not remain apathetic and will react dynamically, utilizing all the legal means at its disposal to defend the rights of teachers and the public school".
As for the positions of the PSGA, to which reference is made, they are the following:
1. Safeguarding teachers on the List of Appointees, teachers of indefinite duration, contract employees and substitutes presupposes the maintenance of the right to permanence after 2027
2. Those already successful in the Lists of Appointments must also be ensured, so that they are not victimized by any change in the system
3. If such a safeguard through a closed list is not possible, OELMEK does not accept the abolition of the Lists of Appointees in 2027.
Also, OELMEK states that in recent years it has warned that the full implementation of the 2015 legislation would lead to a deadlock, both in terms of school staffing and in terms of the job prospects of thousands of teachers. "Today's data confirm this reality," he notes, presenting the following data: "During the 2026-2027 school year alone, more than 300 appointments of Philologists have already been made, while only 23 successful candidates were available in the Lists of Appointees. Accordingly, almost 250 appointments of Mathematics were made, while the available successful candidates in the Lists of Appointments were only 80. It is, therefore, obvious that without the transitional safety net of the Lists of Appointees, the staffing of schools in these - but also in other - specialties would not only be problematic; in many cases it would be objectively impossible."
