Association of Contract Teachers in Basic Education Escalates and Threatens Further Action

The Association of Contract Teachers in Official Basic Education in Lebanon clarified that "based on the statement issued by the Association two days ago, which detailed the repercussions of the Minister of Education's decision to separate 3,500 contract, auxiliary, and fund-based teachers from official schools, and outlined the movements initiated by the Association's President, Dr. Nesrine Shaheen, at official schools, starting from Chakib Arslan School up to Ramel El-Zarif School, and following through on the promise made by the Association to continue its movements at the beginning of this week, awaiting what the Ministry of Education will offer as solutions, the Association, in coordination and agreement with parents' committees, carried out a series of protest sit-ins in front of official schools, after the Ministry remained until now without seriously addressing this crisis, as if the existence of hundreds of thousands of students and teachers outside schools and the disruption of official education is more than natural!"

It added in a statement: "On Monday morning, October 12, three protest sit-ins were carried out in the Central Bekaa and East Zahle, coming in the following form:

- A protest sit-in in front of Bouarj Official School in the Central Bekaa.

- A protest sit-in in front of Deir El-Ghazal Official School in East Zahle.

- A protest sit-in in front of Ain Kfarzbed Official School in the Northern Bekaa.

The Association continued its movements on Tuesday morning, October 13, in North Lebanon, carrying out two protest sit-ins in front of Miniyeh Official School and Miniyeh Al-Maqalea Official School, bringing the total number of protest sit-ins to five over two days, with the participation of the Association's President, Dr. Nesrine Shaheen, in coordination and organization with parents' committees, and with the attendance of parents, students, and teachers who expressed their anger and rejection of leaving thousands of children outside educational classrooms, and the irregularity of school hours, which begin at eleven or twelve noon in a number of schools, in addition to depriving Baccalaureate certificate students of scientific subjects."

It pointed out that "the crisis is not limited to delaying hours or reducing teaching hours, but goes beyond that to schools where education has not started at all, and entire study cycles comprising thousands of students have been deprived of even one hour of teaching since the beginning of the academic year. In Miniyeh Official School, approximately 500 students have not yet joined education, while education has not started at all in Ain Kfarzbed Official School, where educational attendance is limited to the principal and supervisor from the permanent staff, because all the educational staff are contract, auxiliary, and fund-based teachers, which prevented students from joining the school to date."

It affirmed that "in light of these facts, screams, and appeals launched by parents, teachers, students, and the Association's President via social media pages, which met with great interaction and solidarity from Lebanese public opinion against deaf ears from those concerned, despite their repeated appeals to the Presidents, Ministers, relevant MPs, and local communities, the Ministry of Education remains silent, without offering a solution that puts an end to this educational disaster, while the crisis worsens and reflects tension and confrontations between parents and students on one side, and educational cadres on the other," noting "a notable stance by the residents of Miniyeh, who decided not to send their children to schools until all students join education, rejecting discrimination between a student receiving education and another being deprived of it, and insisting on everyone's right to access school and receive education fairly and regularly."

He added: "In parallel, the resignation submitted yesterday by the Advisor to the Minister of Education, Dr. Adnan Al-Amin, and his position holding the Presidents of the Republic and Government responsible for all files of quota-sharing and corruption in the Ministry of Education, while acquitting the Minister of Education of them, sparked widespread anger among educational cadres, parents, and students. Instead of the resignation forming an entry point for holding officials accountable and revealing truths, it seemed like an attempt to whitewash the Minister's page and grant her a certificate of innocence, despite the appeals filling the country and the daily realities witnessed in official schools. While the Advisor directed his accusations at the First and Third Presidencies, no comment was issued by the Minister of Education clarifying her position on these accusations, and she contented herself with absolving herself of responsibility for what is happening, while the rights of thousands of students and their educational future remain suspended, and teachers and parents remain without answers or solutions."

The Association announced "the escalation of its movements in coordination with parents' committees," and called for "a protest sit-in tomorrow morning, Wednesday, October 14, in front of Amrousiyeh Mixed Official School in Choueifat, with the participation of parents and students from Amrousiyeh School, Qobbeh Boys' Official School, and Qobbeh Girls' Official School, to gather and raise their voice demanding the return of all students to their classrooms, securing the necessary educational staff, and putting an end to the policy of leaving official schools to face their fate alone," considering that "the scream of parents, teachers, and students can no longer tolerate further neglect, and that continuing to close the doors of education to thousands of children is not an administrative detail that can be postponed, but an educational crime for which the relevant authorities bear the responsibility of stopping it and addressing its results."

It concluded: "Accordingly, after tomorrow's movement, and awaiting what will be issued by the Ministry of Education and relevant official parties, the Association confirms that the next phase will be a phase of escalation, unless a clear and serious decision is taken to return all students to their desks and put an end to the crisis, and compensate the hours of contract, auxiliary, and fund-based teachers who are innocent of losing their hours due to their suspension from work. Either the Ministry of Education bears its responsibilities and offers a solution that does justice to students and teachers, or it faces further protest and escalation movements, in coordination with parents' committees, in defense of the official school and every child's right to education."