Parliamentarians voiced concerns over soaring student rental costs and unresolved school system issues during a parliamentary education committee session on Tuesday.
Members from all political parties described rental prices as “unaffordable,” particularly in Limassol, where students at the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) face mounting accommodation challenges.
DISY MP Giorgos Karoullas said high-achieving students who secured places at TEPAK were choosing private universities in other cities due to housing costs. He called for accelerated completion of student dormitories in both Limassol and Nicosia, whilst proposing increases to housing allowances.
DIKO deputy committee chairman Chrysanthos Savvides reported that large numbers of students from Paphos commute daily to Limassol for TEPAK classes because “rental prices exceed their financial capabilities.”
“It is contradictory to demand increased student numbers at public universities whilst simultaneously lacking affordable housing options,” Savvides stated.
AKEL MP Christos Christofias criticised government inaction, saying the problem was escalating whilst the state limited itself to future announcements without taking immediate support measures.
School system faces staffing challenges
The committee also addressed pending issues affecting school operations. Savvides emphasised education as a “living organism” and prioritised completing staffing appointments for teaching and administrative personnel.
He expressed hope for reaching agreement on a new teacher evaluation system.
Karoullas highlighted the importance of new appointment schemes and educational work assessment, raising issues including addressing delinquency, strengthening all-day schools, and installing air conditioning systems, which he said “must be completed by summer 2026.”
Christofias referenced staffing shortages in secondary schools due to transfers and problems with temporary teacher appointments. He noted that “2027 represents a milestone year for the new appointments system” and requested a revised evaluation bill with broader consensus.
He also called for updating curricula and reducing teaching material volumes.
Read more: