The secondary school teachers’ union OELMEK is holding its national delegates’ conference today, where members will discuss recent tensions with Education Minister Athena Michaelidou alongside other pressing educational matters.
The relationship between OELMEK and Michaelidou has deteriorated over proposed changes to teacher evaluation systems, with the union criticising both the methodology and the minister’s approach to dialogue.
In response, OELMEK has set a January 10 deadline for the minister to deliver a comprehensive proposal, including cost implications, or face potential industrial action.
Today’s conference may authorise the union’s secretariat to take measures if the deadline is not met.
Sources close to the matter indicate that the January deadline applies not only to the teacher evaluation scheme but also to several other outstanding issues requiring detailed responses from the ministry.
These issues include the pedagogical enhancement of state institutes of further education, policies regarding administrative staff secondments, increasing permanent positions in education, the new appointment system, alternative programmes for delinquent students, and broader concerns about school violence and delinquency.
The conference discussions are expected to indicate the direction of OELMEK’s potential response measures should their demands not be met.
