Students, parents and teachers during a sit-in in front of Rafik Hariri public school in Karkaf, Akkar, on March 14, 2023. (Courtesy of: Michel Hallak)
BEIRUT — Students, parents and teachers at the Rafik Hariri public school in the Akkar town of Karkaf on Tuesday organized a symbolic sit-in in front of the school, demanding its reopening, L'Orient-Le Jour's correspondent in the area reported.
The school closed amid fears of rising tensions in the village following the murder of Sheikh Ahmad Rifai. Rifai's suspected killer is the mayor of Karkaf, Yehya Rifai. The Sunni sheikh was killed following an alleged family dispute dating back several years. Relatives of the victim, as well as those of the suspect, are part of the school's faculty and student body.
During the sit-in, parents urged caretaker Education Minister Abbas Halabi to reopen the school, saying its students would not be in danger. The students, for their part, asked the minister to enable them to return to school so that the school year is not lost.
For his part, the school's principal said that this issue is "in the process of being resolved" and that the school will reopen "in a few days." The sister of the murdered sheikh, Zoubayda Rifai, said her family is opposed to some teachers who are relatives of the alleged murderer resuming their positions in the school.
In Karkaf, this security closure of the public school comes atop various factors putting the school year in Lebanon at risk.
Since January, public school teachers have been on strike to demand better salaries following an unprecedented economic crisis that has been ongoing since 2019. While unions announced the lifting of the strike about 10 days ago, the majority of public sector teachers have since been protesting against this decision. Private schools also announced a strike for Tuesday to demand an adjustment in the living conditions of teachers.
Additional reporting by Michel Hallak