The active committee of contracted teachers in official basic education announced the continuation of the strike. They praised the teachers "who proved on Monday, March 6, 2023, that their dignity and rights are above any consideration and greater than any threats or intimidation. They gathered in front of the Ministry of Education, set up tents, and marched in a procession of dignity from the Ministry of Education to the headquarters of the associations, loudly proclaiming: 'Down with the associations,' sending a clear message that the era of tyranny is over and it is time for the Basic Education Association to realize that it must change its internal regulations to allow contracted teachers to exercise their union rights by electing their representatives in the association. They also confirmed to Minister of Education Abbas Halabi that their dignity is not subject to negotiation."
In a statement, they said: "Colleagues, your continuation of the strike and your sit-in today has achieved for you more than any crumbs; it has secured a stance that will be recorded in the history of trade unionism in Lebanon. Your courage in going to the stronghold of the association, which has long been considered a red line for the ruling authority and that commands and controls teachers as if they were cattle, is commendable."
The committee stated that "the more intimidation and threats escalate, along with the falsification of the strike's reality and false media campaigns, the more it confirms that your decision is correct and in the right direction to gain rights rather than waiting for promises of installments." They indicated that "we will wait for what the Ministry of Education will announce in the coming days and what rights Minister of Education will fulfill so we can build upon this accordingly. We ought to take pride together on this trade union day for having basic and secondary education teachers present, some of whom went to the Ministry of Education at the invitation of independent committees refusing to return before securing their rights, as well as the presence of parents and students who joined us today in belief of the necessity of solidarity to secure the rights of everyone."
They expressed gratitude "to all contracted teachers in their various titles who protested in front of the Ministry of Education and those who were unable to come down to Beirut, but demonstrated in front of the educational areas in Tripoli, Baalbek, and the south," emphasizing that "no right is lost when there are demands."
