The head of the Teachers’ Union in Syria, Wahid Zaal, said that compensation for teachers’ work had been raised from seven to between 25 and 30 percent, adding that final arrangements had been made between the Education Ministry and Finance Ministry.
Zaal added, “Schools need to be given special attention because education is the true basis and foundation of the state. However, everyone knows what the country is enduring, in light of the war and the economic blockade.” He added that despite these issues the state was trying to improve the salaries of teachers and civil servants generally.
With regards to reports on Facebook about the Education Ministry raiding homes in order to arrest teachers who were giving private lessons, Zaal said that the Ministry was following teachers who worked in unlicensed educational institutions that were in violation, while if it was licensed institution it was considered the right of a teacher to work there and there was no objection to that.
He added, “It is not acceptable for a teacher to work as a taxi driver or a vegetable seller but should rather practice his profession as a teacher—but within an official framework and in a licensed institution.”
Zaal said that there were special law enforcement officers who practiced their work under the supervision of the Education Ministry in an official and legal fashion and that it was not as it had been presented on some Facebook pages.
Zaal said that the Ministry did not have the right to arrest reachers, but there was a system, which imposed financial penalties if it was shown that teachers had been working illegally. He said that there was no dispute about giving private lessons, but that it must happen within a regulated framework.
With regards to the issue of the teachers who have left the country, Zaal said that the teacher received his dues from the Union if he was honorable and if he wasn’t undertaking work that could affect the country’s security. If the latter was shown to be the case, then he certainly will not receive it, because he has sold out the state and the nation and violated the Union’s system. He said that every case is studied individually by relying on the studies of the concerned agencies.
This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.
