Thousands of Libyan teachers protest for better pay
Public school teachers in Libya are protesting for higher wages and better working conditions, threatening a general strike that could disrupt the school year. The education sector remains a point of contention amidst the country's ongoing political division.
Why it matters
The strike underscores the socio-economic instability and the challenges of governance in a country divided between rival administrations.
Public school teachers in the Libyan capital and other cities protested on Thursday to demand higher salaries from the Tripoli-based government, threatening a general strike if demands remained unmet.
A strike by thousands of teachers, the biggest in years, demanding better working conditions has already entered its third week, interfering with the start of the school year.
The protesting teachers have threatened to lead a general, open-ended strike to include the private school sector this Sunday, if promises made by the education ministry remain “unfulfilled”.
The teachers’ demands include higher salaries, health insurance and compensation for overtime.
According to UNICEF, education in Libya receives the largest share of the national budget, but teachers in the public sector have long expressed discontent with their working conditions.
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