Bou Saab, Mahfoud Keen to Preserve Academic Year

Education Minister Elias Bou Saab and head of the syndicate of private schools teachers in Lebanon Nehme Mahfoud stressed on Friday that the academic year will not be similar to the previous one.

“We will cooperate with teachers to grant them their rights,” Bou Saab told reporters during a press conference after a meeting with a delegation from the Teachers Syndicate.

He stressed that this academic year will not be similar to its predecessor, saying: “No strikes will be held and schools will not be closed.”

For his part, Mahfoud, who is a member of the Syndicate Coordination Committee, expressed hope that the political powers won't force them to head to the streets again.

“We are keen to stage a normal academic year... The SCC will remain united,” Mahfoud told reporters.

He vowed that the SCC will not back down, demanding the joint parliamentary committees to swiftly review the new pay hike draft-law.

The SCC suspended the correction of the 2013-2014 official exams, leaving Grade 12 students in disarray as they are awaiting the results to enroll in university while Grade 9 students, who underwent the Brevet exams, need to pass their tests in order to enter the secondary school.

Bou Saab was compelled to issue passing statements to all Grade 12 and 9 and the technical schools students, who underwent official exams, after the SCC rejected to budge an inch on the correction of the exams.

Parliament failed to discuss on Wednesday the wage hike draft-law after Speaker Nabih Berri sent back the bill to the joint parliamentary committees for discussion over differences on the raise.

Defense Minister Samir Moqbel said later that he would propose a bill to the government on a separate wage hike for the army.

H.K.

M.T.