The Ministry of Education is operating with just 21 administrative officers and 37 educational planning officers, despite overseeing more than 850 schools, 14,000 teachers, and 165,000 students, official data revealed.
The ministry, responsible for an annual budget of 1.45 billion euros, appears understaffed to effectively manage its wide-ranging responsibilities, according to information provided by Director General Marina Ioannou Hasapi to a parliamentary query.
To bridge this gap, the ministry has seconded 434 teachers from various education levels for the 2023-2024 school year.
These secondments, equivalent to 275.8 full-time positions, include roles such as advisory work and liaison officers.
“The ministry is taking all necessary actions to strengthen its structure with permanent staff and gradually reduce the number of secondments,” a ministry spokesperson said.
The reliance on seconded teachers has long been a contentious issue among educational bodies in Cyprus. Critics argue that this practice may create problems in schools and for frontline educators.
Of the seconded staff, ten hold principal positions, six are assistant principals grade A, and 78 are assistant principals. The remaining 340 are teachers.
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