The public kindergarten in Oroklini ended another school year facing serious infrastructure problems, with pupils due to return in about a month's time.
Parents say the issues are longstanding and have been repeatedly postponed from one year to the next. The Larnaca School Board, which oversees the kindergarten, acknowledges the problems and says some solutions are already being put in motion.
Buildings in disrepair
According to parents, one of their main concerns is the condition of the school's buildings.
They say that approximately a year and a half ago, deteriorating sections of the roof and a corridor were removed, yet the affected areas have still not been repaired. They also express concern about a prefabricated classroom that has been on the premises for several years and is showing signs of wear and rust, particularly in its sanitary facilities.
Parents argue that this highlights the long-standing need for upgraded school infrastructure in the area.
They are calling for all necessary works to be completed before the start of the new school year so that children can return to a safe and fully functional environment, something they are not convinced will happen.
They have also raised concerns about the lack of adequate shaded areas in the playground, where children spend a significant part of their day. The demand for covered outdoor space has been a longstanding one, particularly during the summer months when the school operates as a summer kindergarten.
Repairs planned for August
Larnaca School Board president Yianna Nicolaou told Politis that the roof problems are known and that procedures to address them are already under way.
According to Nicolaou, the relevant tender was issued on July 24 and closes on August 5, while the School Board is due to meet on August 6 to advance the project. The aim is for works to begin by the end of August and, if possible, be completed before children return to class.
Nicolaou stressed that there is no safety issue at the school, noting that the School Board systematically removes deteriorated sections from the buildings under its responsibility.
She said such interventions will now be accompanied by the necessary repair works so that problems are addressed comprehensively rather than left unresolved.
Regarding the outdoor facilities, Nicolaou said projects are also moving ahead to install a shade structure and upgrade the school's playground.
Delays frustrate parents
Parents, however, say they were given assurances during a meeting in October 2025 that the works were included in the School Board's immediate plans. Yet one school year has ended, another is about to begin and work has still not started.
The School Board president acknowledged that repairs had been pending for a long period, attributing the delay to the large number of schools under the Board's management.
She explained that projects are currently under way or being planned at dozens of schools across the district, while the air-conditioning installation programme is also being implemented.
The School Board oversees 55 schools and is therefore forced to prioritise projects according to urgency and need.
She added that funding for the repairs had been secured at the start of the year, but that implementation procedures are often time-consuming.
More children, less space
Beyond the condition of the buildings, increasing enrolment is also causing concern.
The public kindergarten served around 100 children until June. From September, with the addition of a new prefabricated classroom, that number is expected to rise to between 115 and 125 pupils.
Parents fear the school's capacity is being expanded without a corresponding increase in available space.
The playground is already considered small for the needs of around 100 children aged four to six. The installation of the new classroom will further reduce the available outdoor area.
Information obtained by Politis suggests that the school's management is attempting to alleviate overcrowding by organising the use of outdoor spaces at different times and in separate sections for the various classes.
The growing demand for school places in Oroklini, parents say, underlines the need for a second primary school and a second kindergarten in the community, a request that has been raised for years by both the Parents' Association and local residents.
They stress that no parent wants their child educated in overcrowded conditions.
Nicolaou acknowledged that rapid population growth in areas such as Oroklini, Livadia and Aradippou is placing additional pressure on educational infrastructure.
She said that the new prefabricated classroom is the only immediate solution available before the start of the new school year and until more permanent plans can be implemented.
New regional kindergarten will not solve Oroklini's problems
As for the new regional kindergarten being developed in Livadia, information obtained by Politis indicates that the intention is for it to absorb part of Oroklini's student population and help ease pressure on the existing kindergarten.
Parents, however, have expressed doubts that the project will adequately address Oroklini's needs.
They argue that the new school is outside the community and does not satisfy the long-standing demand for additional educational facilities within Oroklini itself.
Regarding calls for a second primary school and a second kindergarten in the area, Nicolaou said work is under way on the preparation of a project proposal documenting and justifying the need for new school facilities.
She stressed, however, that building new schools is a lengthy process requiring coordination between the School Board, the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities.
The project has already been included in the government's Medium-Term Fiscal Framework for 2027-2029.
"There are problems, but they are being addressed. Not everything is rosy," she said, adding that the School Board remains in constant cooperation with both parents' associations and the Ministry of Education in an effort to advance solutions.
