Student unions held a protest outside the Cyprus Parliament against the proposed reduction of €2.8 million in student grants included in the state budget. The protest took place during discussions on the budget and was attended by representatives from student unions of CUT, Frederick University, universities in Athens, Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rethymno, and Bulgaria, as well as the Pancyprian Coordinating Committee of Students and organized parent groups from secondary education.

The students submitted a resolution to the Speaker of the House, Annita Demetriou, who expressed her support for the student community and invited them to arrange a meeting to discuss their concerns.

Efraim Christou, President of the University of Cyprus Student Union, stated that the government’s proposal to cut €2.8 million from student grants left them with no choice but to mobilize after exhausting institutional avenues.

"Today, the student community sends a strong message. Both the legislative and executive branches must listen. Cutting funding in education contradicts their claims of viewing education as an investment," Christou said.

He added that since 2013, students have faced reductions in grants amounting to €24 million, justified by claims that the funds remained undistributed. He stressed that while students' needs have not decreased, the eligibility criteria, established decades ago, no longer reflect the current socio-economic realities.

During the protest, AKEL General Secretary Stefanos Stefanou expressed his party’s support for the students' right to adequate funding.

"Declarations without action are meaningless. We cannot talk about the future of this country while cutting the wings of that future—our youth," he told the students. Stefanou called for an increase in grants and an adjustment of eligibility criteria to reflect the rising cost of living.

DIKO’s Chrysanthos Savvides committed to conveying the students’ demands to the Ministry of Education. “I understand your concerns. Without state support, many of you will have to terminate your studies. I will do my best to convince the Ministry,” he assured the crowd.

EDEK President Marinos Sizopoulos emphasized the need for a stronger and more assertive student movement, especially in the face of rising costs and housing challenges. “Support for students through grants is necessary under current economic conditions,” he added.

Green Party MP Charalambos Theopemptou stressed the importance of creating a fair and inclusive system for all students, offering his availability for in-depth discussions to address their concerns.

VOLT MP Alexandra Attalides condemned the proposed cuts, stating that access to education should be a fundamental right, not a privilege. She criticized the policy as “anti-economic” and highlighted the erosion of purchasing power due to inflation.

Attalides further criticized the establishment of a centralized fund overseen by the First Lady at the Presidential Office, describing it as a humiliating system where citizens must beg for assistance. "This approach is disgraceful in a state governed by the rule of law," she concluded.