Growing concern over youth violence in Cyprus has prompted warnings from the head of the Confederation of Secondary Education Parents, Loizos Constantinou, who says incidents of violence and bullying involving minors have become a nationwide problem.
Speaking on SIGMA’s Protoselido programme following recent incidents in Paphos and Limassol, Constantinou said complaints are being recorded almost daily, with many cases never reaching the public.
“The problem is nationwide, it is a social issue. The situation has got out of hand, and we are reaching a point where control may be lost. If we do not act quickly, it will become irreversible,” he warned.
He explained that violence among minors is not exclusively a school-related problem, as schools are simply the places where such incidents are more easily identified and recorded.
Calls for stricter enforcement of school rules
Constantinou stressed that responsibility lies with both the state and parents, highlighting the need for effective supervision, enforcement of regulations and appropriate penalties.
Addressing mobile phone use in schools, particularly following incidents in which pupils filmed fights, he clarified that a blanket ban is already in place but that problems remain with its implementation.
He called on the Ministry of Education to ensure that the legislation is fully enforced through proper supervision and penalties for those who breach the rules.
Support for social media age restrictions
Regarding the possibility of introducing age restrictions on social media use, Constantinou said the Confederation would support such a proposal if Cyprus moves towards implementing it.
He emphasised that the aim is not to cut children off from technology but to protect them from online risks.
Parents, he noted, are often unaware of what their children watch online, whom they communicate with and what kinds of behaviour they imitate.
He stressed the need to establish meaningful safeguards for minors, as concerns over youth violence in Cyprus continue to grow both inside and outside schools.
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