teachers' strike in northern Syria expands, with 113 schools in Idlib joining

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has reported the continuation of the teachers' strike in several areas of northern Syria, noting that 113 schools in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside of Idlib countryside have joined the strike, amid demands from thousands of teachers to the interim government in Syria for wages that match the cost of living.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights has monitored the continuation of the teachers' strike in several areas of northern Syria, noting that 113 schools in the Jisr al-Shughur countryside of Idlib countryside have joined the strike, amidst demands from thousands of teachers to the interim government in Syria for wages that match the cost of living.

This comes at a time when there are still no clear signs of a near resolution to the crisis, reflecting the growing protests against the educational reality, in protest against the policy of the Ministry of Education in the interim government.

In this context, the observatory documented a similar scene on February 7 in the areas of Deir ez-Zor, Idlib, and Raqqa, in addition to Hama and Homs, where thousands of schools are witnessing an escalating strike that has led to a near-total paralysis of the educational process, forcing both children and teachers to face a complex living and administrative reality.

Data indicates that the continuation of the strike not only negatively affects students but also increases the burdens on families, especially those unable to bear the costs of private tutoring or transferring their children to private schools, exacerbating educational loss and threatening the academic path of thousands of students.

The teachers' demands also include improving the state of schools, rehabilitating damaged buildings, raising salaries, and providing protection for educational facilities, considering these as essential steps to ensure the continuity of education and elevate its level in the affected areas.

The need for urgent intervention by the relevant authorities is highlighted, according to the data, to develop practical plans that ensure students return to their classrooms, secure a suitable educational environment, and support teachers who are facing difficult living conditions, in order to preserve the future of education in the region.

Observers warn that the continuation of the crisis without swift solutions could deprive thousands of children of their right to education and exacerbate humanitarian and social challenges, necessitating that responsible parties fulfil their role in protecting the educational process and preserving the dignity of teachers.

ANHA