Minister of Education and Higher Education in the caretaker government, Abbas Al-Halabi, met with the World Bank’s regional director, Jean-Christophe Carre, heading a delegation from the working team in Beirut, in the presence of the Director General of Education, Imad Ashkar, and the ministry's working team. Al-Halabi informed the World Bank mission about the agreement with teachers regarding the start of the new academic year on the ninth of this month, pointing out the "decline in the number of registered students in public schools due to the forced suspension of the last academic year, which will compel the ministry to extend the registration period."
He also indicated that he signed the decision related to the mechanism for paying productivity allowances for teachers, assuring them of the availability of funds and the method of payment from the treasury advance approved by the Council of Ministers. He confirmed that "the repayment mechanism for vocational and technical education has also been determined," noting that "yesterday he discussed with the Prime Minister the needs of the Lebanese University and the Mutual Fund, which have been secured."
Al-Halabi added: "The academic year will begin, and there are many empty school funds, which deprives them of the ability to operate and spend on essential necessities. Furthermore, official school textbooks have not been printed due to the inability to conduct tenders in the absence of funding in US dollars. There are specific allocations for the education of displaced persons in the afternoon shift, in addition to the refusal of municipalities to open additional schools to accommodate the displaced." He mentioned that registration for displaced persons has not yet opened, pending the completion of registration for Lebanese students.
From his side, Carre pointed out that "a World Bank study indicates that Lebanon loses approximately three million dollars daily due to the closure of schools, based on a coordinated scientific study, especially as Lebanon's wealth lies in its human resources built through education." He spoke about "cooperation with the ministry in analyzing teacher productivity, extracting indicators, and evaluating the situation with the help of international experts." He emphasized the importance of preparing studies on possible projects for the ministry, with cooperation between the teams at the World Bank and the ministry, ensuring that these projects are comprehensive and meet the needs expressed by the ministry in its plan, thereby enabling funding opportunities when available, considering that investment in education is not a temporary expenditure but a future investment.
### Meeting with Lebanese University Officials
Al-Halabi then received the President of the Lebanese University, Bassam Badran, and the President of the Association of Contracted Teachers at the Lebanese University, Antoine Charbel, leading a delegation from the executive body of the association. They discussed providing the appropriate conditions for the commencement and stability of the academic year. He also received MP Mark Daw, discussing educational issues related to the start and continuity of the academic year.
Additionally, Al-Halabi visited the Iraqi embassy to pay condolences to the ambassador and embassy staff for the victims who fell in Iraq.
### Signing of Productivity Payments
On another note, Al-Halabi signed decision No. 774/M/2023 regarding the payment of productivity allowances for teachers, employees, and all workers in the Ministry of Education and Higher Education for the academic year 2023/2024. This is linked to actual teaching and working in official schools, secondary schools, and vocational institutes. The amount ranges from approximately 190 US dollars to 300 dollars monthly, inclusive of teachers, instructors, contracted staff, mechanization employees, drivers, guards, and all other users involved in information, administrative, service, and technical work in official schools, with a productivity allocation for directors reaching approximately 360 US dollars monthly.
