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Protests in Idlib protest against salary cuts for teachers and criticize Ministry of Education policies
Widespread protests erupted today in the cities and towns of Idlib governorate and its countryside, condemning the decision to cut salaries of teachers working in the area. Protesters raised slogans expressing their anger at the lack of clear regulation regarding the fate of their salaries after previous promises to pay them at the end of June.
Hundreds of teachers and educational workers gathered, emphasizing that “it is unjust for our salaries to be reduced and for our situation to be equal to those living in areas controlled by the remnants of the Assad regime. We have worked voluntarily for years, faced many difficulties, and no one cared about us.” They also stated that “the minister comes now and cuts our salaries, despite previous promises to pay them, and until now there are no clear signs about the payment date or the actual amount of the salaries.”
The protesters also expressed their anger over the lack of transparency. One teacher said: “Everyone who works knows their wages, except us in northern Syria — we still have no idea about the fate of our salaries. How can we face a difficult and bitter life without prior knowledge?”
The demonstrators asked: “Shouldn't we have clear rights, especially considering that just a year ago we were considered terrorists, and now we are being treated as besieged citizens?” They added that “cutting salaries at a time when the burden is increasing and many countries are announcing raises is unacceptable, and it completely ignores the suffering of those working in the educational sector.”
At the end of the protests, the protesters called for a general strike among education workers in northern Syria, demanding a complete halt to work until the fate of their salaries is clarified in a real and transparent manner, away from media statements and false promises.
This escalation comes amid ongoing tensions and a lack of clear solutions regarding the future of workers in the educational sector in the region, as parents and stakeholders look forward to improving the living and educational conditions of their children.
