More than a hundred teachers demonstrate in front of the French Secular Mission in Beirut, Febr. 28, 2022. (Credit: Photo provided to L'Orient-Le Jour)
BEIRUT – More than a hundred teachers from the Grand Lycée Franco-Libanais de Beyrouth, the Lycée Franco-Libanais de Verdun and the Lycée Franco-Libanais de Nahr Ibrahim protested on Monday in front of the French Secular Mission (MLF) and Regional Directorate of the Real Estate and Digital Financial Administration (DRAFIN) in Beirut, to demand an increase in their salaries.
Here’s what we know:
• In a statement sent to L'Orient- Le Jour, the teachers explained that their salaries from the MLF establishments “remained pegged to one dollar at LL1,500.”
• These teachers have been waiting for sustainable solutions that will allow them “to live with dignity,” continued the statement.
• While many businesses, corporations and schools in Lebanon have adopted salary improvements, the MLF, through DRAFIN, has not.
• The teachers called on the MLF and DRAFIN to find “equitable and lasting solutions to curb the exodus of Lebanese teachers.”
• “In times of crisis, it is important to show solidarity and support local teachers to maintain an ambitious level of education,” their statement concluded.
• One US dollar can be exchanged for LL20,000 on the parallel market today.