Lebanese public education protests

The Association of Basic Education Teachers in Lebanon initiated a strike to protest Ministry of Education policies. Key grievances included the prioritization of Syrian students for afternoon sessions in public schools while Lebanese students faced enrollment barriers, and the lack of integration for contracted and auxiliary teachers into morning sessions.

Following these initial actions, protests expanded to include the Association of Contracted Teachers, parent committees, and municipal unions, particularly in the Hasbaya district. While the Minister of Education reportedly reversed a decision regarding the termination of 3,500 contracted teachers, a new policy was introduced to merge classrooms with fewer than 15 students. Protesters argue this merger could result in classes of up to 36 students and force different grade levels into single rooms, which they claim would reduce instructional time to approximately 22 minutes per subject. Local officials have warned that these measures threaten the quality of public education and may drive families toward the private sector.