Teachers Association Organizes Protest Rejecting Suspension of Teacher Contracts in Lebanon

The Contractual Teachers Association in Official Basic Education in Lebanon (CTLP) organized a solidarity sit-in in front of the Ministry of Education on the first day of the school year. The protest rejected Minister Rima Karami's decision to "suspend 3,500 contracted teachers hired under the designation 'assisted' or via funds from teaching, depriving them of their work, their families of wages, and leaving half of official school students out of classrooms," while warning of the repercussions of this decision on public schools.

A statement by the association noted that "nearly a month has passed, and the association continues to appeal and demand the return of teachers to their classes and students to their seats. However, the minister ignores all this chaos, waiting for the completion of her needs assessment study, as if the school year and the right to education can remain suspended until this study is finished."

The association viewed that "what is happening in public schools is no longer an administrative detail but has become an educational disaster unfolding day by day, threatening public education. The adoption of schedules ending at 10:30 or 11:00 AM in some schools, along with the implementation of educational cycles, has deprived entire grades of education. Some schools do not teach a full cycle consisting of three grades, sometimes across several sections, while other students are deprived of core subjects such as chemistry, biology, physics, and mathematics."

The association asked: "Is this how the school year is built? Is it reasonable that a month passes since its start, while half of public school students do not receive their right to education, and 3,500 teachers are at home, deprived of work and pay, at a time when schools need their teachers? Or is this the final blow intended against public schools in favor of private ones?"

It pointed out that "the cry of the students revealed the truth, and the decision to return was limited to one school." It indicated that "on Wednesday, October 7, the head of the association, Dr. Nesrine Shaheen, went to Chekib Arslan School and carried out a protest action, transmitting students' messages live on Facebook. However, the Minister of Education took a decision on the same day to restore regular schooling only at Chekib Arslan School, asking its administration to invite teachers back to their classes to allow the completion of seven daily periods, while hundreds of schools remained on half-time schedules."

The association questioned: "If regular schooling is possible at Chekib Arslan School, why isn't the same decision applied to hundreds of public schools in Lebanon suffering from the same problem?"

It mentioned that "the following day, Thursday, October 8, the head of the association continued her movement in front of Ramlet El Bayda School in Beirut, where she met parents and students who raised their voices at the school entrance amid their children's non-enrollment. Here too, the association asked the Minister of Education to address the issue before the crisis worsened. However, the minister and the Director of Basic Education, Mr. George Daoud, continued attempts to hide the scale of the disaster. Parents of students and some principals, including Ms. Roula Dahouk, principal of Housh Al Harimi School in West Bekaa—whom we salute for her courage in telling the truth—that half of public school students are without education. Many parents and teachers also filmed videos documenting what the minister's decision to freeze contracts for 3,500 teachers caused, showing the chaos and confusion in public schools and the problems arising from depriving thousands of students of education. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education kept justifying that the situation is not catastrophic."

It noted that "for several days, the minister says one moment she is waiting for the needs assessment to be completed, and another issues directives to some school principals arbitrarily to bring teachers back to teaching, while other principals are left to dispense with teachers' services. What criteria are being used? On what basis are these decisions taken? Where is justice and transparency in dealing with teachers, schools, and students?"

It highlighted that "this confusion coincides with the suffering of teachers in the south who lost their contracts due to the destruction of their schools, despite being properly contracted teachers. To this day, their transfer requests remain without clear resolution, and they are not allowed to resume remote teaching, as if the destruction of the school due to war and the loss of homes and livelihoods were not enough, adding the loss of educational and work opportunities. Who will compensate these teachers for their contracts? Why doesn't the Ministry of Education hasten to attach them to schools in their displacement areas?"

The association stated that it had "previously appealed to the President of the Republic, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Prime Minister to intervene to put an end to these random decisions. But to this day, we have not felt any response that stops what is happening. We appealed to presidents, ministers, and MPs, but saw no responsible stance to stop this confusion; we only heard of an interrogation of the Minister of Education in the parliamentary education committee, but without any practical recommendations."

It affirmed that "the movements that started on Wednesday were not in vain; they resulted in combined efforts and coordination between parent committees in public schools and the Contractual Teachers Association, based on a shared conviction that silence on depriving students of education is no longer acceptable."

It announced that "this week will witness, starting tomorrow morning, protests and solidarity sit-ins in front of public schools in various Lebanese governorates, involving parents, teachers, and students, to convey the real situation inside schools and demand the return of regular education for all students and teachers. Coordination was also made with the Parent Committee of Miniyeh Public School to hold a sit-in on Tuesday, October 13, at 7:00 AM in front of the school, followed by sit-ins in front of other public schools successively."

The association warned of "the dangerous scene we may witness in front of schools: parents bringing their children to enter classrooms and demanding education within normal hours, while other parents stand protesting because their children are not learning. Is this the scene we want for our public schools?"

It also confirmed its continuation in "standing alongside teachers, students, and parents," holding "the Minister of Education primarily responsible for this confusion." It also held "responsible anyone with the authority to intervene, including presidents, ministers, MPs, members of the education committee, and those concerned with educational affairs, for failing to put an end to this crisis and find a fair and clear solution ensuring the return of teachers to education and the regularity of the school year in public schools."

It stressed that "undermining the stability of public schools and depriving their students of education leads only to undermining trust in them, pushing parents to wish they could move their children to private schools, after they relied on public schools to secure their right to education."

The association affirmed that "public education is not a testing ground, teachers' rights are not bargaining chips, and students' right to education is not a detail that can be postponed. It is a national responsibility, and everyone must bear their responsibilities before it is too late."

It addressed "every free citizen, educator, principal, unionist, and person of conscience saying: Your silence today about what is happening in public schools is a stain of shame that will follow you until death. But, if you have no shame, do as you please."