Banning mobile phone use during school hours is intended to promote education and encourage creative use of break times, Education Minister Athena Michaelidou said on Friday, the first day of the new measure.
Speaking at a House education committee meeting to discuss her ministry’s 2025 budget, Michaelidou emphasised, “We don’t want to punish the children. This year will focus on discussions, especially with older students, to highlight the positive aspects of this measure.”
The minister added that “we are placing emphasis on alternative ways to pass the breaktimes,” such as creating and tending to green areas in the schools, participating in creative activities and engaging in social interaction.
This, she said, would contribute to reducing violence and delinquency through technology.
Asked about the alternative study and reintegration school, which closed before it opened due to hostility against its students, Michaelidou said she expected it to be running in a different location – yet to be decided – in February 2025.
“The place must be approved by the experts to make sure it is suitable for these children. May I remind you that it is a pilot programme with a small number of children, just in Nicosia for the time being, to make an assessment and see if it can be extended elsewhere as well,” she added.
Things were also progressing with the evaluation system for teachers.
“Our intention is within 2024, if possible, to have the first proposal ready, which we will then submit to the House.”
The minister said the objective was to have a more democratic, modern evaluation system, which would be fair teachers and students alike.
