A new accident at a Nicosia district school has reignited discussions about the need for rubberised surfaces in school playgrounds, after a first-grade student suffered serious head injuries during a physical education class.
According to a complaint filed by the student’s father, his daughter sustained severe injuries after colliding with a classmate and falling on the asphalt basketball court.
When called to take his child to Nicosia General Hospital’s Emergency Department, he found her with severe swelling and bruising on her head, bleeding, and abrasions on her arms, legs, abdomen, and pelvis.
The incident has prompted the father to raise concerns about school safety, particularly in outdoor sports areas.
In a detailed letter to the Ministry of Education and relevant departments, he questioned how the ministry’s technical specifications could permit materials that put children at risk, calling for the installation of rubber surfaces in school playgrounds.
The school in question lacks an indoor gymnasium, forcing students to use the outdoor asphalt basketball court for physical education classes.
Responding to philenews, a Ministry of Education source confirmed they are preparing a reply to the father’s letter.
On the substantive issue of court surfacing materials, the source stated that there is no safety flooring specifically for basketball courts, noting that even rubber surfaces, which are frequently discussed, are not classified as safety flooring.
The source explained that rubber surfaces are typically installed only in schools with very limited yard space, citing high costs, demanding maintenance requirements, shorter lifespan, and odour issues due to petroleum-based materials.
