The parliament is set to investigate a controversial school registration system that labelled parents as “Parent 1” and “Parent 2”, despite the Education Ministry’s swift removal of the terms following an outcry by political parties.
The Democratic Rally (DISY) party has requested a parliamentary education committee hearing, describing Education Minister Athena Michaelidou‘s explanation as “inadequate and unconvincing”.
The controversy emerged from the ministry’s new electronic registration system for primary schools, eDEA. Michaelidou defended the labelling as a technical matter relating to login order rather than gender designation, dismissing conspiracy theories and stating that attempts to exploit the issue were causing unnecessary public concern.
The Cyprus Primary School Teachers’ Union (POED) has raised additional concerns about the system’s implementation. In a letter to the ministry’s director general, the union highlighted a lack of consultation despite earlier commitments. POED noted that despite being invited to participate in focus groups in October 2022, only one meeting took place in December 2022, with no subsequent involvement in the system’s development.
The terms were removed from the system over the past weekend following public backlash. The minister emphasised that any interpretations beyond technical functionality were unfounded, stating that some were attempting to exploit the situation for unclear purposes.
The parliamentary committee is expected to seek government explanations regarding the implementation of the registration system and the decision-making process behind its design.
