**Parents Threaten Action Over Unsafe Conditions at Ypsonas Schools**
Ypsonas, Cyprus – Parents’ associations representing public schools in Ypsonas have formally lodged a complaint with the labour inspection department regarding ongoing construction works at local schools. On Monday, they indicated that they may take further action in collaboration with schools in Curium if the situation, which they deem dangerous for students, is not addressed.
The education ministry has been given a deadline of September 10 to respond positively to the associations' concerns. Should the ministry fail to act, parents have warned that they will escalate the matter to the European Union and that students will abstain from the first two periods of school on September 14.
The coordinating committee of parents’ associations expressed that public education is "on the brink of collapse," highlighting the urgent need for a strategic implementation of school upgrades with clear deadlines. They reported that approximately 2,682 children are affected by the current conditions, which include the use of unsuitable prefabricated classrooms that have been in place for years due to overcrowding.
In their communications, the committee noted that despite multiple letters and meetings over the past three years, the situation remains unresolved. They emphasized that the area is rapidly developing and requires additional educational facilities. Currently, the only lyceum in Ypsonas is operating with 12 mobile classrooms, which they argue is inadequate for the growing student population.
In a letter dated September 4 to the labour inspection department, the committee referenced previous promises made by the education ministry regarding the upgrading of school facilities. They criticized the ministry for relying on a "communication strategy" rather than taking tangible steps to address the pressing issues.
Following the complaint, the education ministry responded by promising to provide answers regarding the building program that has been pending for several months. They also committed to visiting the Ypsonas third public school to inspect the prefab classrooms.
In a show of good faith, the coordinating committee has granted the ministry an extension until September 10 to convert these verbal assurances into written commitments. They are specifically seeking commitments for the upgrading of the third nursery school and third primary school, as well as the construction of a fourth nursery school, a fourth primary school, a second gymnasium, and a second lyceum in Ypsonas and the surrounding western Limassol area.
The committee has also demanded guarantees concerning health and safety, as well as suitability certificates and full fire safety measures for the existing prefab classrooms until new projects are completed. They firmly stated, "We do not accept to send our children [to school] in conditions that the state authorities acknowledge to be problematic for years."
The situation in Ypsonas highlights the challenges faced by rapidly growing areas in Cyprus, where educational infrastructure has not kept pace with population growth. As parents await a response from the education ministry, the outcome of this situation remains uncertain, with the potential for significant implications for the local education system and the wellbeing of students in the region.