Media concentration affects democracy says Atilio Boron

Education Tensions Could Amplify Lebanon’s Social Crisis

Meeting with donor delegations at the Grand Serail (Government Palace), the Transitional Cabinet Education Director called for everyone to work together to reopen schools and authorize the use of existing international funds to support teachers.

The agency presented the difficulties of the sector and the teachers’ demands to Prime Minister Najib Miqati, ambassadors of the countries accredited to Lebanon and some representatives of the World Bank, the United Nations and other international organizations.

Halabi announced that the Council of Ministers would devote the next meeting to discussing education issues and how to improve incentives in the face of currency depreciation and loss of purchasing power.

In this scenario, the teachers’ union, in a meeting with the Association of Private Education Institutions, agreed to strengthen the means of supporting teachers economically through a salary increase and the payment of welfare benefits in dollars.

At the same time, he approved the discussion on the possibility of financing the private school teachers’ pension fund to increase the salaries of pensioners in order to ensure the minimum elements of the duration of education.

Continuing the official strike, the teachers are demanding compliance with the economic quotas collected on wages, transportation and social benefits.

In mid-September, the representative of the United Nations Children’s Fund in Beirut, Edward Beigbeder, renewed his call for the government to continue its commitment to children, teachers and schools and to take immediate practical steps to ensure quality, safe and inclusive education.

jf/yma