A teacher with a disability has raised concerns over the failure to provide reasonable adjustments to her working hours and workload, despite being appointed through the special register for teachers with disabilities.
Speaking on Sigma TV’s programme Mesimeri kai Kati, Fotini Michaelidou said she was required to work the same teaching hours as other newly appointed teachers, even though legislation and a relevant circular provide for reasonable accommodations for educators with disabilities.
Michaelidou described the situation as “tragicomic”, saying that the existing provisions were not being applied in her case.
“Although there is legislation, although there is a circular, although everything that needs to be done is in place, these provisions are not being implemented in my case,” she said.
She explained that she has hereditary myopathy, a condition that causes, among other symptoms, fatigue and muscle pain. In 2021, she underwent an assessment by a Medical Board and was subsequently included in the special register for teachers with disabilities.
On 19 September, she received an offer of appointment as an Art teacher at a secondary school in Paphos, where she began work on 21 September. However, she found that her contract required her to teach 24 periods per week, the same number as other newly appointed teachers.
“I cannot be appointed through the register of teachers with disabilities, where the legislation is supposed to provide for reasonable adjustments to the timetable, working hours and accessibility to the premises and classroom, perhaps including assistance, and then be expected to work under the same conditions,” she said.
A demanding workload and physical strain
Because of her specialisation in Visual Arts, Michaelidou teaches a total of 14 classes, reaching approximately 200 to 250 students each week.
She also teaches five of the seven periods in a school day, which she said places considerable physical strain on her.
The nature of the subject requires her to move continuously around the classroom to approach students, monitor their work and provide guidance.
She said that standing for long periods and fatigue, combined with her condition and increased workload, had affected her health. She has already had to take sick leave twice.
Request for fewer teaching periods
Michaelidou said she had requested an adjustment to her teaching hours so that she could carry out her duties without putting her health at risk.
“I asked not to have so many classes and to be able to teach four periods a day,” she explained.
According to her research, teachers with between 17 and 24 teaching periods are considered to be working full-time.
“Under the terms of my appointment, I should not even have to claim reasonable accommodations. I should have been appointed from the outset with perhaps 17 or 20 teaching periods,” she argued.
School made efforts to accommodate her
The teacher clarified that the management of the school where she works had responded positively to her needs and had made adjustments within its capabilities.
She was exempted from playground supervision and replacement teaching duties, which would have added to her workload. She was also given keys to the lift, as her classroom is on the first floor.
“The school did everything it could to help me,” she said.
However, she stressed that the main problem remained the requirement to teach 24 periods per week.
“I cannot do my job properly with 24 teaching periods, in the way I want to and know how to,” she said.
Education Service refers request to next school year
Michaelidou also discussed the response she received from the relevant Education Service after submitting a letter asking for her requests to be examined.
Reading out the response during the programme, she said the service had informed her that two of her requests could not be considered because her appointment had taken place after the start of the school year.
“Taking into consideration the fact that you were appointed after the start of the school year, requests numbered 1 and 2 cannot be examined. However, you may submit your request for the next school year, when the relevant circular is published, around February–March 2027,” the response stated.
Michaelidou expressed disappointment, pointing out that she is currently employed on a contract and does not know whether she will be reappointed next year.
“I can submit a request for the next school year, when I do not even know whether I will be appointed again next year,” she said.
She added that her letter had also requested a meeting with the official responsible for signing the relevant circular, in an effort to find a solution.
According to Michaelidou, the case highlights a gap in the procedures for handling requests from teachers with disabilities who are appointed after the school year has begun.
“There is no protocol for teachers who are appointed during the school year,” she argued.
She expressed hope that bringing her case to public attention would help secure a solution, allowing her to continue working with the necessary adjustments without compromising her health.
Her complaint has raised questions about the practical implementation of provisions for teachers with disabilities, particularly when appointments take place during the school year.
Also read: KYSOAA: New disability support service launched in Cyprus
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