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Catholic schools embarked on an open strike on Thursday, December 21. This sudden decision came as a response to two laws passed in Parliament on December 15, amending certain regulations governing educational authority in private schools and the management of school budgets.
The first law allocates 650 billion Lebanese pounds (LBP) from the 2023 budget of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education to the Indemnity Fund for educational staff in private schools.
The second bill, proposed by MP Ali Hassan Khalil, seeks to amend various articles in laws governing private educational institutions, private schools’ budgets and the retirement and service termination of teachers.
The amendments aim to enhance the compensation fund’s revenues, ensure timely payments from private educational institutions and strengthen the state’s oversight role.
The proposed changes include the mandatory contribution of contractual teachers to the indemnity fund by deducting a percentage from their monthly salaries, an obligation that previously applied to full-time teachers only.
Other modifications involve increasing the school’s contribution to the fund from 6% to 8% and raising contractual and full-time teachers’ contribution from 6% to 8%.
Additionally, private schools must provide an annual clearance certificate to the Ministry of Education to confirm payment of obligations, including contributions of retirees and staff members.
Catholic Schools Outraged
The Episcopal Committee for Catholic Schools in Lebanon strongly opposed the controversial law, expressing concerns that it was passed without previous consultation with relevant stakeholders.
Speaking to This Is Beirut, Father Youssef Nasr, Secretary General of Catholic Schools, said that “no consultations took place with the schools, relevant authorities, parents or other stakeholders. It lacks legal foundation and comprehensive study, which renders it irrelevant.”
The Secretariat argues that its objections were not taken into consideration at the parliamentary session during which the law was passed.
These include rejection of the increase to 8% of the monthly contribution paid by schools and teachers to the indemnity fund, and making it mandatory to contractual teachers.
Concerns were also raised about the Indemnity Fund’s management, as the fund’s board of directors has been inactive since 2019.
Father Nasr warned that the Secretariat will challenge the law, calling for “not publishing it in the Official Gazette to prevent its enforcement.”
“We will resort to all legal means to safeguard the future of children attending private schools,” he added.
Parents’ League Approves Law
In contrast, the Parents’ League welcomed the law which they say enhances financial transparency in private schools.
Lama Tawil, President of the Parents’ League in Private Schools, believes “the new law would protect parents from malpractice.”
“As parents, we demand full transparency, audits and a financial guarantee,” Tawil told This Is Beirut, adding that “it is illogical for schools not to accept paying indemnity and compensation in dollars while insisting on school tuition being paid in dollars.”
Tawil also expressed concern over the open strike, stressing, “This decision poses a risk to our children’s education.”
Teachers’ Syndicate Calls for Dialogue
Nehmeh Mahfoud, Head of the Teachers’ Syndicate, has called for dialogue to resolve the controversial issue.
In a statement issued Thursday, Mahfoud highlighted the plight of retired teachers whose monthly indemnity in Lebanese pounds is equivalent to $10 to $30, and called on schools to pay their dues to the compensation and retirement funds in foreign currency since school fees are paid in dollars.
Over 300 Catholic schools will be affected by the decision to strike.
However, the General Secretariat of Catholic Schools, as well as the Parents’ League, have all expressed willingness to engage in a potential dialogue to salvage the future of Catholic schools.
