Regarding repeated public interventions of the Cyprus Confederation of Disabled People's Organisations (KYSOA) regarding the case of a disabled primary school student, the Ministry of Education, Sports and Youth (MESY) is forced to reiterate the following:
- In this particular case there is no "exclusion" of the pupil from school. If the pupil is not attending school, it is because her parents do not want to accept the decision of the competent Central Committee appointed under the existing legislation and continue to keep the child away from the school environment, in violation of the law on compulsory education.
- In this case, the Ministry has followed all the procedures laid down, ensuring that the pupil is able to attend school.
- In particular, the decisions of the Provincial Commission have been followed and even a reassessment of the pupil by a multidisciplinary team has been arranged, while all the objections raised by the parents have been duly examined.
- The latest decision of the Central Committee provides for the relevant provisions concerning the pupil's attendance. What is happening, however, is that, with the exception of certain events (excursions, visits), the parents are keeping the child out of school by sticking to their own point of view.
- We note with regret, however, some unsubstantiated allegations made by the Central Committee. Indeed, KYSOA's incomprehensible insistence that there has been no reassessment of the data relating to this particular case is inaccurate and incorrect.
The Ministry can only act on the basis of the law and regulations in force and apply all that is laid down. It is, of course, the right of anyone to have a different opinion, but some people cannot insist that their view be imposed contrary to the law. We cannot comprehend what it is that makes the CPSOA or even some parents believe that their own opinion is above the laws and regulations.
On this occasion, it is recalled that some 14,000 special education children are currently integrated into the country's education system and the State and the Ministry ensure that they meet their right to attend school and all that is provided for in the relevant legislation. A few cases that see the light of day every now and then and which, as a rule, involve a disagreement between parents, cannot change this picture.
IP
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