The Libyan Teachers' Union has rejected a directive from the Ministry of Education to open schools and resume classes, despite the government's efforts to end the ongoing strike. The union, in a statement, said the directive, issued by Minister of Education Mohamed Al-Qaryou, ignored the teachers' demands and rights. The union emphasized that previous promises to address their concerns were not accompanied by concrete actions.
The union stressed that improving teachers' conditions cannot be achieved through unilateral decisions or pressure on education supervisors. Instead, they argued that the decision to continue or end the strike lies with the teachers and their unions, as determined by the union's movement. The union remains committed to its stance until clear solutions and guarantees for implementing their demands are provided.
Minister Al-Qaryou had directed education supervisors in municipalities to open all schools and resume classes immediately, while also monitoring teachers' demands and working to address them. This move comes as the Libyan Teachers' Union announced a general strike across all Libyan schools, protesting what they see as the government's failure to implement their demands related to improving teachers' conditions and salaries.
The strike, which began on September 13, coincides with the start of the new academic year. The union's demands include improving living conditions and salaries, providing comprehensive health insurance for teachers and their families, and activating laws and legislation that guarantee teachers' rights and dignity. The union also seeks the disbursement of differences under Law No. 4.
A representative of the government met with representatives of the teachers' sub-unions on Saturday to discuss the possibility of lifting the sit-in. However, the union stated that the representatives of the teachers emphasized that it was not possible to end the strike before official decisions were issued and their demands were implemented. The union insists that the strike will continue until concrete steps are taken regarding teachers' demands.
The ongoing conflict between the union's stance and the Ministry of Education's directives on resuming classes reflects a deeper issue. The union's determination to continue the strike until their demands are met indicates a challenging situation for the Libyan education sector. The government's efforts to address the teachers' concerns remain crucial to resolving the crisis.
The situation highlights the complexities of addressing the needs of Libyan teachers, who have been advocating for better working conditions and benefits. The government's response to the union's demands will likely determine the course of the strike and its impact on the education system in Libya. The international community is watching closely as the situation unfolds.
Key points
- The Libyan Teachers' Union has rejected a government directive to open schools amid an ongoing strike over teachers' demands for better working conditions and benefits.
