Overview of 2024-2025 incidents
During the 2024-2025 school year, 98 schools in Cyprus reported a total of 510 incidents of school violence, according to the Cyprus Observatory on School Violence (COSV) report. Dr Elena Chatzikakou, Director of the Pedagogical Institute and Chair of COSV, spoke to CNA about the Ministry of Education’s efforts to support schools following the findings.
Violence by education level
Responses varied across educational levels. Primary schools reported 108 incidents from 37 schools (10.85% response rate), while lower secondary schools accounted for 328 incidents from 49 schools (42.24%). Technical and vocational schools reported 72 incidents from 10 schools (66.66%), and preschool registered two incidents from two schools (0.74%). The report identifies lower secondary education as the stage with the highest incidence of violence.
Types and causes of violence
Most incidents involved physical violence, verbal abuse, and bullying. Cyberbullying showed a noticeable increase, while racist and sexual abuse cases were fewer but still recorded. Data from the Educational Psychology and Counselling Services highlighted family difficulties, social isolation, and challenges in school integration as primary contributing factors. School-related elements, including teaching style and school climate, were also linked to increased risk of student misconduct.
Location and response
Incidents occurred mainly on school premises, particularly in yards (230) and classrooms (170), with a smaller number taking place online, during school trips, or at students’ homes. Schools typically referred incidents to internal Ministry services, such as the Rapid Intervention Team, Educational Psychology, and District Education Offices, or to external services including Social Welfare, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and the Police.
Recommendations and preventive measures
The report emphasises training teachers in conflict management, implementing systematic prevention mechanisms, strengthening school-community collaboration, and improving the digital incident reporting tool. Long-term strategies focus on creating inclusive, safe school environments and continuous monitoring of violence trends. Dr Chatzikakou noted that data from this first annual report will inform ongoing Ministry actions and interventions.
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