Paphos School Board warns of severe understaffing in letter to Ministry

On February 10, 2026, the Paphos School Board sent an official letter to the Director General of the Ministry of Education, Sports, and Youth regarding chronic understaffing. The board currently manages 37 school units and the Theoskepasti Special School, overseeing an annual budget of approximately 10 million euros. Despite employing roughly 300 hourly workers and serving thousands of students and teachers, all administrative and financial duties are handled by only six employees and one messenger. The messenger has reportedly been performing administrative tasks, including the management of public contracts, for several years. The letter highlights "intense professional burnout" and "increased psychological pressure" among staff due to the excessive workload. It warns of a tangible risk of errors and describes the current situation as unmanageable and at its limit. The board is demanding immediate protection measures under Occupational Health and Safety legislation. Previous efforts to secure more curators and staff have reportedly been unsuccessful.