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EDUCATION

Teachers strike in Saida: 'No return to class' until demands are met

Teachers strike in Saida: 'No return to class' until demands are met

Public teachers demonstrate in Saida, South Lebanon, March 8, 2023. (Courtesy of Muntasser Abdallah)

BEIRUT — Public school teachers held a demonstration in Saida, South Lebanon, on Wednesday to protest their unions' decision to end their strike L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south reported.

Teachers have been striking since January to demand improved salaries and benefits. Their unions ended the strike on Monday without consulting the public school teachers, who have staged demonstrations every day this week to contest the move.

In Saida, the demonstrators, primary and secondary school teachers, called on caretaker Education Minister Abbas Halabi to respond to their demands and improve their salaries to preserve "the dignity of teachers," according to our correspondent.

The demonstrators started their march at the Lebanese-Kuwaiti school and walked through the city, chanting slogans like "no return to class until [their] demands are met."

"We are rising up today against the authorities who are offering us humiliating financial compensation and forcing us to return to class," said professor Imane Hanineh in a speech on behalf of the protesters.

On Feb. 27, Lebanon's cabinet approved granting teachers roughly five liters of gasoline per working day given that regular teachers work four days per week while contract teachers work three days a week. Many teachers consider the compensation inadequate.

Professor Wissam Farran said the teachers' situation "is not fair."

"We will persevere to obtain our rights and refuse to be a scapegoat," Farran added.

Similar to other sectors, Lebanon's education sector has been hard hit by Lebanon's ongoing economic crisis. Many teachers say that they intend to maintain their strike.

In February, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) warned of "significant and persistent damage to children's learning, mental and physical well-being and safety," due to the ongoing teachers' strike, but added that it "recognizes the dedication and commitment of teachers to their students and understands the negative impact of the economic crisis on their lives."

Reporting contributed by Muntasser Abdallah.

BEIRUT — Public school teachers held a demonstration in Saida, South Lebanon, on Wednesday to protest their unions' decision to end their strike L'Orient Today's correspondent in the south reported.Teachers have been striking since January to demand improved salaries and benefits. Their unions ended the strike on Monday without consulting the public school teachers, who have staged...