35% of Cyprus school buses failed the state inspection, yet continued carrying children

Cyprus’s Audit Service identified serious violations: 35% of buses checked at state centers were found to be unfit, and 53% of the entire fleet did not undergo the mandatory unscheduled inspection on time, which was ordered after vehicle fires in 2025.

Key facts from the report:
- In the Famagusta area, five rejected buses continued transporting pupils without valid certificates.
- 19% of buses that failed the state inspection had successfully passed checks just days earlier at private centers (IKTEO), which casts doubt on the reliability of those inspections.
- The highest percentage of faulty vehicles was recorded in Famagusta (76% of buses checked), while the best result was in Nicosia (just 8%).