REPRESENTATIVES for the English School’s pupils union yesterday called on everyone to leave them alone to resolve their problems, during a marathon meeting at the House Education Committee.
A spokesman for the pupils said: “We have never had any problems amongst ourselves, nor have there been problems between Greek and Turkish Cypriots. Just leave us alone to resolve our problems”.
He also expressed pupils’ sadness that the recent uproar had ”ruined the good climate that existed in the school between pupils and teachers”.
The Committee were examining the issue on the suggestion of EDEK’s George Varnava, DIKO’s Antigoni Papadopoulou and Andreas Themistocleous of DISY.
The English School has for a while been dogged by a row that broke out between a section of the school’s teachers and a group of parents called the Parents Initiative. The latter feel the school’s identity is being adversely affected by plans to encourage reconciliation between Greek and Turkish Cypriot pupils.
Recent events such as the cutting out of the national anthem during Cyprus’ Independence Day celebrations, and a speech by Rolandos Katsiaounis, who said pupils should stop using references such as “Turkish invasion and occupation”, have contributed to the tense climate.
Yesterday’s four-hour discussion didn’t resolve anything apart from teachers, parents and pupils agreeing to take part in a civilised discussion to find common ground.
The Committee gave the school a fortnight, after which it will visit to check on progress.
“As a Committee, we have called on all involved bodies to make an attempt to find common grounds that will help the school operate better,” Committee Chairman Nicos Tornaritis of DISY said after the meeting.
“I pray and hope that these 15 days will be productive, so we don’t have to return and re-discuss this specific matter.”
Speaking on behalf of the English School’s Parents’ Initiative, Paris Spanos claimed during the meeting that a section of the school’s teachers were attempting to politicise the pupils.
“With these actions, the teachers in question are attempting to impose their own personal and political views, forcing pupils to doubt their beliefs on serious and sensitive matters, such as the intercommunal troubles…national identity and the Turkish invasion and occupation,” said Spanos.
According to the Initiative, represented yesterday by three parents, the concerns and complaints were submitted to the school’s board of directors verbally and in writing on a number of occasions but they went unanswered. “This led to bitter relations and a climate of intense concern,” Spanos said.
He added, “As parents, we recognised the multicultural character of the School and demand this multicultural character continues to exist. But unfortunately, this character is being used as an excuse to introduce practices that attempt to realise certain goals, which have no room in education.”
But the spokeswoman for the school’s official Parents Association said: “We cannot share these accusations, as they have not yet been registered, substantiated or investigated.”
“But we are observing very carefully the Parents Initiative’s concerns and feel each involved party has the right to an opinion. However there are certain procedures that need to be followed.”
Until these complaints were investigated, she said, it was in the school’s best interests that public statements were avoided.
