A private school in Limassol has sparked a serious public debate after refusing to allow a school aide for a student who was officially certified as needing one. Remarkably, the child’s mother offered to cover the aide’s entire salary at no cost to the school — yet the answer remained no.
The school cited internal regulations, disregarding the assessment by a competent committee of the Ministry of Education. The student, who had attended the school since age four, was forced to transfer mid-year — a transition that caused significant stress.
Commissioner for Children’s Rights Elena Perikleous called on the Ministry of Education to take corrective action. In her report, she stressed that special education provision cannot be left to each private school’s discretion, given that Cyprus has ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Under the Convention, states must ensure that no child is excluded from education due to disability — whether at a public or private institution. The child now attends a public school, where cooperation with the aide is proceeding smoothly.
