Education in Crisis: 12,000 teachers in Sweida unpaid

Leila Jahjah, Director of Education in Sweida, told local media today that the education directorate has no financial allocations. She emphasized that the directorate has not delayed any payment orders, but the Central Bank in Sweida lacks funds. As a result, educational staff have been deprived of their salaries for nearly three months.

12,000 Staff Suffering Under Siege

Approximately 12,000 employees in the education sector are experiencing severe living difficulties amid the blockade and deteriorating living conditions.

Funds Diverted to Restricted Areas

Jahjah explained that the financial allocations intended for educational staff were transferred to the town of Mazraa in western Sweida, under the control of the transitional government forces. Due to security risks, staff cannot safely travel there to collect their salaries. She described Mazraa as “a main center where the government attempts to assert control over Sweida residents by controlling basic resources, extorting citizens, and forcing compliance,” fueling widespread public anger.

Schools Preparing Amid Challenges

Despite these challenges, schools in the city have begun preparations for a preliminary term in schools that have not been converted into shelters for forcibly displaced people from the western villages. Alternative buildings are being prepared to house the displaced, allowing schools to reopen gradually.

Teachers Appeal for International Support

Suwayda’s teachers and staff issued a statement to international organizations, including UNICEF, calling for urgent intervention to secure salaries and ensure the continuation of education. They warned that withholding salaries threatens their livelihoods and jeopardizes the future of an entire generation of students.

a.k

ANHA