Teachers with serious chronic illnesses report reduced workplace accommodations from the Education Ministry this academic year, according to patient advocacy groups.
The Cyprus Federation of Patient Associations (CyFPA) received complaints from teachers, including cancer patients, regarding cuts to support measures previously granted.
“The Education Ministry has reduced accommodations that were granted until the end of the previous school year,” said Marios Kouloumas, honorary president of CyFPA. “For example, a teacher who had three hours reduction now receives only one hour.”
CyFPA calls for ministry policy review
The ministry cited increased application numbers as justification for the changes, according to correspondence from affected teachers to the Patient Rights Observatory.
Teachers argue the approach ignores case severity. “Such levelling treatment not only wrongs specific individuals but undermines the human-centred approach in education and public health,” their letter states.
Cancer patient teacher loses hour reductions
One cancer patient teacher referenced in the correspondence takes medication causing anaemia, severe fatigue, weakness and sleep disorders. The teacher received three hours accommodation last year but only one hour this year.
“This affects her ability to respond to a full teaching schedule,” the letter indicates.
Similar reductions affected other teachers with chronic conditions, according to the correspondence.
Teachers request immediate ministry intervention to revise procedures and develop policy considering case severity for patients with serious chronic illnesses.
Kouloumas added that accommodation provision must be implemented across public and private sectors to maintain chronically ill workers in employment.