Will teachers’ demands be fulfilled?

Amid Lebanon's economic depression, Private Schools Teachers Union has put forward three demands:

First, providing private school teachers with social aid comparable to that provided to the public sector, such as doubling their salary three times per month.

Second, resolving the issue of banks refusing to pay salaries in total cash.

Third, resolving the issue of non-disbursement of compensation by checks in banks.

The head of the private school teachers union, Nehme Mahfoud, asked during an interview with LBCI, "Why were the union's demands not included in previous cabinet meetings?

He also confirmed that he had requested an appointment to meet with Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati but had not received a response.

However, Mahfoud vowed an escalation that would start with sit-ins and reach strikes unless the issues were remedied.

For his part, the Secretary General of Catholic Schools in Lebanon, Father Youssef Nasr, affirmed to LBCI that looking at teachers' demands is reasonable and logical, but studying its perspectives and social reality is also important.

Seventy percent of private educational institutions increase salaries in US dollars and Liras. At a time when there are educational institutions that are unable to provide these incentives in a poor environment.

Moreover, Nasr added that financial aids from abroad are cheap, stressing that they reach the teachers. He pointed out that Catholic schools work to balance the needs of parents and teachers.

He indicated that maintaining the academic year, the education level, and the pupils' fate is of utmost importance.

Sources from the Education Ministry confirmed to LBCI that Caretaker Education Minister Abbas Halabi held contacts with Banque du Liban (BDL) governor to address the issues and that the ministry was in the process of sending a letter to the Association of Banks in an attempt to find solutions.

According to BDL sources, the problem of salary withdrawal has only been partially handled because the central bank cannot manage cash withdrawals for the public and private sectors because of a lack of liquidity in US dollars or Liras. Citizens may deposit checks only in their current bank accounts, not in any new accounts.

Thus, Lebanon's financial meltdown has reached all sectors, including the educational one.

International organizations may take advantage of this crisis to push for integrating the displaced Syrians with Lebanese students through advanced educational programs and attractive cash incentives. What kind of academic future can the new generation in schools expect?