NEW education reform proposals announced by Education Minister Akis Kleanthous continued to draw criticism yesterday, mainly from the parties fronting presidential candidates against the incumbent president next February.
Deputy for former government partner AKEL, Yiannos Lamaris, described the proposals as “hasty, theoretical and non-analytical” while suggesting that some of the proposals were even anti-reform. He accused the minister of deviating from the usual procedure followed in preparing proposals by sidestepping a number of organisations before announcing the reforms.
“At first glance, there are parts of the proposals which are anti-reform and undermining,” he said.
The proposals include a controversial bid to abolish the antiquated waiting list for teaching positions, as well as set up an evaluation centre for teachers and headmasters, provide more autonomy for schools and create regional schools to replace smaller village schools.
Opposition party DISY deputy Nicos Tornarides, who also heads the House Education Committee, accused the ministry of not informing the parties of the proposals first. Referring to the minister’s desire to complete discussions on the reform proposals within three months, Tornarides hinted again that the whole reform timetable might have something to do with election campaigns.
“The discussion for educational reform has been going for years. There are good intentions but the result is usually much lower than our ambitions. Let us hope this time within three months we will overturn previous practices and dogmatic attitudes,” said the deputy. “We will be really happy if most, not all, proposals are put into practice,” he said, adding he had doubts whether all could come to agreement within three months, “during a period, which is 140 days from elections and everyone understands that proposals can be given for good and for other reasons.”
DIKO deputy Athina Kyriakidou said there was an urgent need for reforms and the time had come for proposals to be made. “It saddens me that DISY is troubled with the government making proposals. On the one hand they criticise the government of doing nothing, and on the other they are troubled. What do the parties want?” she said.
She called on all parties to take a non-partisan approach to discussions. “This is not about political motives in education. Because we have elections, should we stop discussing educational reform?” she asked.
Vice-President of the European Party, Stratos Panayides said the reforms were positive and could not understand what all the fuss was about. He highlighted that the premature election campaign had started as a result of AKEL, backed by DISY, wanting to leave government and establish their leader Demetris Christofias as a presidential candidate.
