Parliament discusses tighter supervision following incidents of vandalism and violence.
The use of guards and cameras on school buses was among the measures discussed in Parliament as authorities and parents seek ways to tackle student misconduct on board vehicles carrying thousands of pupils across Cyprus.
The House Transport Committee heard that placing guards on buses had already been tried in three cases, twice in Larnaca and once in Nicosia. The Road Transport Department said, however, that the results of the measure had fallen short of expectations.
The possibility of using cameras or supervisors to identify students responsible for misconduct was also put forward during the discussion.
Loizos Constantinou, president of the Pancyprian Confederation of Parents' Associations for Public Secondary Schools, said that only a small proportion of the approximately 25,000 students who use school buses engage in problematic behaviour.
He argued that students responsible for damaging buses or causing other disruptions should be identified, potentially through cameras or the presence of supervisors. Measures could also include holding parents financially responsible for repairing damage caused by their children.
Pambos Kapnos, president of the Association of Tourist Bus Owners, said bus operators had experienced incidents involving damage to vehicles, the removal of safety equipment and the injury of a driver.
He said more effective action was needed to deal with such behaviour as companies prepare to begin transporting students for the new academic year.
The discussion came as authorities confirmed that 761 buses have passed the required checks and are ready to operate school routes. Another 40 vehicles failed inspections and will not be used to transport students.
Around 600 buses are needed to cover student transport needs across the island, according to the Road Transport Department, leaving what officials described as sufficient capacity for the start of the school year.
Buses still awaiting inspection will not be allowed to join the school transport fleet until they have received the necessary approval.
The 761 approved vehicles have undergone a series of checks, including technical and fire safety inspections, as well as reviews concerning drivers, registration permits and other required documentation.
House Transport Committee chairman Sotiris Ioannou said the buses had been subjected to both private inspections during the past three months and state checks during the 2025-2026 period. He said they also held the required certificates, including fire safety documentation.
DISY MP Giorgos Karaiskakis said the committee had received assurances that no bus failing to meet all safety requirements would be used to carry students. He added that companies were still completing the submission of documents, including MOT certificates, fire safety permits and other paperwork.
AKEL MP Valentinos Fakontis said student safety must remain the central priority on every route. He also called for students to show respect towards drivers and the buses they use.
The Road Transport Department will conduct unannounced inspections during September, while 10 supervisors will continue carrying out spot checks throughout the school year.
Questions about overcrowding were also raised at the committee meeting. Student representative Despina Kyprianou cited an example of a bus with 32 seats that was reportedly carrying considerably more students.
A representative of the Road Transport Department explained that some vehicles are licensed to carry both seated and standing passengers and operate on specific urban routes. For longer journeys, buses with seats for every passenger are used.
Transport Minister Evi Tsolaki said she was satisfied with the preparations for the student transport service and thanked the bus companies for their efforts to complete inspections ahead of the new school year.
Representatives of bus companies from Nicosia, Famagusta, Larnaca and Limassol also told the committee they were ready to begin services after an intensive effort to complete vehicle checks during August.
While the school bus fleet appears ready for the new term, the discussion over how to prevent misconduct inside the vehicles is likely to continue, with cameras, supervisors and other forms of monitoring now among the options being considered.
