Lebanese teachers protest Ministry of Education decisions

The Association of Contracted Teachers, in collaboration with parent committees and the Hasbani Municipalities Union, has organized protests against recent decisions by Minister of Education Rima Karami. The demonstrators are protesting measures that impact public schools, particularly in the Hasbaya district.

While the Minister reportedly reversed a decision to halt 3,500 contracted teachers, a new policy has been introduced to merge classrooms. Under this new rule, any class with fewer than 15 students will be combined with another, potentially resulting in classes of up to 36 students. Protesters argue this will force students of different grade levels—such as combining first and second grades—into a single room, effectively halving actual instructional time to approximately 22 minutes per subject.

Local officials, including the mayors of Hasbaya and Kfarshouba, have joined the protests, emphasizing that reform should not come at the cost of teachers' livelihoods or the quality of public education. The demonstrators warn that these measures increase the risk of school dropouts and drive families toward private education, threatening the continuity of the public school system in rural villages.