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EDUCATION

School employees strike and protest across Lebanon

School employees strike and protest across Lebanon

Public school teachers and administrators gather in front of a Fransabank branch in Baalbeck Monday to protest the bank's monthly withdrawal limit. (Credit: NNA)

BEIRUT – Contract teachers in vocational, basic and secondary education started the first day of their open strike this morning with sit-ins in front of the Hermel Serial and the Education Ministry, the NNA reported. Public school teachers and administrators also protested at a branch of Fransabank in Baalbeck, demanding an end to the bank's monthly withdrawal limit. 

Here’s what we know:

    • The teachers called on authorities to approve the payment of their transportation allowance and social grants, in addition to other demands. They stressed their commitment to continuing the strike until all demands are met.

    • Contract teachers also carried out a sit-in in front of the Education Ministry with the participation of General Confederation of Lebanese Workers head Bechara al-Asmar who demanded that the teachers “shall have a social security that provides family allowances, school grants and transportation allowances.”

    • The contractors issued a statement asking “How do they want the contractors to return to their schools when 90 percent of them did not collect the $90 approved by the Minister of Education?”

    • A large number of the striking teachers did not receive their summer sessions payments until now, and those who took it received half of the allowance, the statement added.

    • Public schools directors and staff also carried out a sit-in in front of the Fransabank branch in Baalbeck, to protest against the bank's monthly withdrawal limit of LL3 million.

    • “The banks were not satisfied with seizing people’s deposits, but rather withheld school funds and the salaries of teachers and employees, through applying a ceiling of LL3 million on [school bank accounts and employees’ bank accounts],” said a protestor.

BEIRUT – Contract teachers in vocational, basic and secondary education started the first day of their open strike this morning with sit-ins in front of the Hermel Serial and the Education Ministry, the NNA reported. Public school teachers and administrators also protested at a branch of Fransabank in Baalbeck, demanding an end to the bank's monthly withdrawal limit. Here’s what we...