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LU professors continue open strike as academic year finals postponed

LU professors continue open strike as academic year finals postponed

Lebanese University contract lecturers speak to the press during a protest in front of the Grand Serail in April. (Credit: NNA)

BEIRUT — Full-time professors at the state-owned Lebanese University on Thursday announced that they will continue their open strike that started in July and said that they "are not willing to discuss any matter until the transfer of all delayed payment dues."

In a statement, the instructors also said that "in case there was no clear strategy to the resumption of in-person teaching and a modification to the salaries of the professors which fits the current situation, let everyone know that there will be no [new] university year and no ending of this year."

The lectures at Lebanese University this year were mostly given remotely partially due to the remaining spread of COVID-19 but mainly due to the high gasoline prices relative to the students' and professors' abilities as the country struggles from an unprecedented economic crisis.

“The instructors will not accept the distribution of free certificates to anyone or through distance education, which is illegal and leads, in a short period, to non-recognition of university certificates and affects the level at which it has always been distinguished. Let all measures be taken that secure the ingredients for the return of in-person education to the university," the statement added. 

L'Orient Today spoke to a student at LU after the instructor's decision to continue the strike, extending the school year as students haven't been able to complete their final exams. Maria Azar, 19, who is studying biochemisty at the Lebanese University's first branch in Hadath, said: "Honestly, I am nothing less than frustrated. Of course, as students, we do understand our professors' rights, but we still have our own rights of finishing a school year and taking our well-deserved break."  "I can tell you no one did [enjoy the break]. The exams' anxiety is present for everyone, most of us have a weekly studying schedule with one or two days off. For us, it's not a break," Azar added.

BEIRUT — Full-time professors at the state-owned Lebanese University on Thursday announced that they will continue their open strike that started in July and said that they "are not willing to discuss any matter until the transfer of all delayed payment dues."In a statement, the instructors also said that "in case there was no clear strategy to the resumption of in-person teaching and a...