The head of the Educational Psychology Service, Ernie Sismani-Papacosta, has defended the alternative schooling programme for students with behavioural issues, amidst controversy over its planned implementation at Pancyprian Gymnasium.
Speaking to philenews, Sismani described the programme as “our last effort to reintegrate these children into school, to prevent them from dropping out and being ‘lost’ to the system”.
The initiative, modelled on similar schemes in other countries, including Scandinavian nations often viewed as educational exemplars, combines education with specialist support.
It targets students whose extreme behavioural issues stem from social difficulties or psychological trauma.
Papacosta explained that the programme aims to provide both support and pedagogical education to prevent school dropouts and extreme behaviour within schools, as well as to avoid perpetuating behaviours that could lead to serious societal problems in the future.
She clarified that the students selected for this programme – with parental consent – are not involved in criminal matters.
They are of secondary school age, academically capable, but require specialist support due to other issues they face.
The goal is to keep these students within an educational framework, provide necessary support, and eventually reintegrate them into their original schools without issues for themselves or the wider school community.
Papacosta confirmed that the students feel uncomfortable about the controversy surrounding their enrolment in the initially chosen location, stating, “In our schools, we don’t want any child to feel terrorised and frightened”.
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