Libya's Schools Closed.. Teachers' Strike Disrupts Academic Year

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Thousands of schools in Libya remain closed, three weeks after the scheduled start of the academic year, as a teachers' strike has prevented students from returning to their classrooms, in a crisis that threatens to disrupt education.

Education unions are insisting on continuing the strike to demand improvements in their financial conditions and salary increases, in addition to calling for better working conditions and the enhancement of the infrastructure of educational institutions before resuming classes, while the government is pressing for the reopening of schools to save the academic year from disruption.

In this context, the official spokesperson for the teachers' movement, Waseem Klish, stated in a statement to "Al Arabiya.net" that the concerned authorities have not yet responded to any of the teachers' or their unions' demands, and none of them have been implemented, affirming that "the movement is committed to continuing the strike until its demands are met."

Klish also clarified that there is no specific date for suspending the strike and returning to studies, indicating that this will not happen before the implementation of the demands he described as legitimate and feasible, if efforts are combined and endeavors are unified among the various concerned parties, expressing hope that the authorities will respond to the teachers' demands to allow for the resolution of the crisis and the resumption of studies.

He added that the teachers "are determined to continue the strike until their demands are met," expressing hope that the authorities will respond to their demands and that efforts will lead to a solution that ends the crisis and returns students to their classrooms.

Meanwhile, parents are increasingly worried that the continuation of the strike will affect the academic year, as weeks have passed since the scheduled start date, which may result in a backlog of lessons and pressure on the academic program later on.

Zahra Al-Abdullah, one of the teachers in the city of Sabratha, said, "No teacher is satisfied with the closure of schools and the hindrance of students' return," pointing out that "everyone wants to return to their work and for life to return to schools, but the poor handling of the officials regarding the teachers' file has complicated the situation and prolonged the crisis."

She also added in a statement to "Al-Arabiya.net" that "the return of students to schools is important and a priority, but this return must be to schools capable of providing education and working conditions that befit them and preserve the dignity of their teachers."

In an attempt to end the stalemate, Minister of Education Mohamed Al-Qriou, in an official directive, urged education supervisors to open schools and welcome students, in order to ensure their fundamental right to continue their education during the current academic year, emphasizing that the ministry "is closely monitoring the teachers' demands," noting that "there are serious and diligent efforts being made by the government to address these demands and respond to them."

The continuation of the teachers' strike comes at a time when the national unity government is facing increasing pressure due to simultaneous demands in several sectors calling for salary increases and fairness, which puts it in the position of having to address the workers' demands.

It is noteworthy that the Libyan Audit Bureau has revealed increasing concerns regarding the financial stability of the country amid the unprecedented expansion of public sector expenditures, where it has urgently called on the Prime Minister of the national unity government, Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, to intervene immediately to regulate the workforce and adopt a unified salary schedule that ensures social justice and halts the financial waste that threatens the state treasury.