The general assembly convened on Monday by the Private School Teachers Union to vote on whether to observe a general strike instructed the union's Executive Council to decide on the course of action to be taken. This decision will be made in light of the outcome of Tuesday's meeting with caretaker Minister of Education Abbas Halabi.
The Private School Teachers Union threatened an open strike on Friday, following the Cabinet’s same-day decision to refer the two laws passed by Parliament on December 15 back to parliamentary committees to amend certain regulations, particularly those relating to school budgets and their contribution to the Compensation Fund.
In protest, Catholic schools announced an open strike on December 21. It was finally lifted and classes resumed normally on January 8, following mediation by Bkerke. A subcommittee dedicated to this issue had, in fact, been set up at the initiative of Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai. The committee, chaired by Halabi, includes representatives of private schools, parents, the teachers' union and the Compensation Fund, as well as members of Parliament.
"If at tomorrow's (Tuesday) meeting we don't get serious guarantees, I'll announce an open strike, which will be effective starting Wednesday," said the Head of the Private School Teachers Union Nehme Mahfoud at the end of the meeting.
In addition, retired private school teachers have called for a sit-in to be held at 1 PM on Tuesday in front of the Ministry of Education headquarters at UNESCO, simultaneously with the above-mentioned meeting.
The retired teachers are demanding an adjustment to their retirement pension, in line with their colleagues in the public sector.
The Private School Teachers Union threatened an open strike on Friday, following the Cabinet’s same-day decision to refer the two laws passed by Parliament on December 15 back to parliamentary committees to amend certain regulations, particularly those relating to school budgets and their contribution to the Compensation Fund.
In protest, Catholic schools announced an open strike on December 21. It was finally lifted and classes resumed normally on January 8, following mediation by Bkerke. A subcommittee dedicated to this issue had, in fact, been set up at the initiative of Maronite Patriarch Bechara al-Rai. The committee, chaired by Halabi, includes representatives of private schools, parents, the teachers' union and the Compensation Fund, as well as members of Parliament.
"If at tomorrow's (Tuesday) meeting we don't get serious guarantees, I'll announce an open strike, which will be effective starting Wednesday," said the Head of the Private School Teachers Union Nehme Mahfoud at the end of the meeting.
In addition, retired private school teachers have called for a sit-in to be held at 1 PM on Tuesday in front of the Ministry of Education headquarters at UNESCO, simultaneously with the above-mentioned meeting.
The retired teachers are demanding an adjustment to their retirement pension, in line with their colleagues in the public sector.
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