The educational bureau of the Nasserist Popular Organization affirmed its support for the strike being conducted by contractual professors at the university for the fourth consecutive week.
The National News Agency reported that the educational bureau's statement underlined the legitimacy of the demands of the contractual professors at the Lebanese University, who are escalating their strike for the fourth consecutive week in rejection of injustice and oppression. The statement called on professors to unify their stance and elevate their demands in their rightful cause, away from political disputes. It was emphasized that a state that deters, marginalizes, and insults its intellectuals—one of the pillars of the sanctity of knowledge—is a failed state unable to continue providing life necessities for its people.
The statement also reiterated the Nasserist Organization's support for the ongoing strike until the concerned parties respond to the rightful and legitimate demands in order to preserve the national university and its continuity and the future of its students. It pointed out that what is happening today, following a policy of rampant destruction of all values, principles, and the academic-cultural mission, is accountable to the corrupt political authority and the corrupt in all their positions.
The statement stressed that the honorable people in this homeland are in a state of defense of their rights and dignity, and it is unacceptable for the dignity of professors to be demeaned or for them to beg here and there for their living dignity.
The head of the active committee for contractual professors, Nasreen Shaheen, announced in a statement an open-ended strike starting from tomorrow, 8/1/2021, meaning no remote learning in public schools across Lebanon. The statement noted, "In light of the unfair decision by the Minister of Education against contractual professors, the active committee for contractual professors in official primary education decided to announce an open-ended strike, and not to participate in the remote learning process until the Minister revokes his decision." This decision coincides with solidarity from all committees and will be followed by escalatory steps on the street. The statement continued, "We hope that the official unions will take a clear official stance regarding the deprivation of contractual professors of half their teaching load. We await the minister's correction of the decision, as we have known him to be a man of conscience and free speech… How could such a decision pass that cuts into the livelihood of the contractual teacher amidst all these tragedies affecting the country in general and the educational sector in particular?"
