Contract Teachers and Parents' Committees Protest Education Ministry Decisions

The Association of Contract Teachers in Official Basic Education organized a protest rally in support of official schools and in rejection of the Minister of Education's decisions to close them, particularly in the Hasbaya district. The event was held jointly with the Al-Hassbani Municipal Union and local parents' committees, attended by the head of the Al-Hassbani Municipal Union and Mayor of Hasbaya, Labib Al-Hamra; the head of the Al-Arqoub Municipal Union and Mayor of Kfarshouba, Dr. Qassem Al-Qadri; Majed Al-Hamra; and several school principals and contract teachers.

At the outset, the Mayor of Hasbaya emphasized "standing alongside contract teachers and supporting their legitimate demands," stating that "reform does not begin by cutting people's livelihoods, but by finding just solutions that ensure the continuity of their work, preserve their dignity, and simultaneously safeguard students' right to education and the continued operation of official schools."

Al-Qadri then stressed "teachers' right to live with dignity," praising "the great efforts they make to educate generations and build their future," while affirming the necessity of "appreciating their role, treating them fairly, and securing their rights in a way that preserves their dignity and their economic and professional stability."

Participants also affirmed "the need to address the issue of contract teachers with a sense of responsibility and fairness, and to find solutions that protect their rights and preserve their dignity, away from decisions that threaten their economic stability or negatively impact the educational sector." They emphasized "the importance of maintaining official schools and ensuring the continuity of the educational process in a manner that serves the interests of both teachers and students alike."