The head of Cyprus’s Secondary Education Parents’ Federation has strongly opposed proposed legislation allowing public universities to offer undergraduate programmes in English, during a heated house education committee session.
Loizos Constantinou, representing 117 parents’ associations and 95,000 parents, told lawmakers they would resist the implementation of the bill “in a thousand ways”, warning that if passed, it would grant excessive power to the Council of Ministers and university rectors to determine programme placements.
“We will not accept this bill. The decision is yours,” Constantinou said, arguing that taxpayers have funded the University of Cyprus since 1989 to educate local students, not to offer English-language programmes or turn public universities into businesses.
The parents’ federation views the proposal as a serious blow to public education that would create significant inequalities for state school pupils. Their position has gained support from both OELMEK and OLTEK teachers’ unions.
Constantinou argued the situation would be irreparable if the legislation passes, expressing particular concern about delegating programme placement decisions to cabinet ministers and university authorities.
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