A Libya teachers strike has shut public schools and delayed the start of the school year as educators demand higher salaries, health insurance and overtime compensation.
Classes for around 1.6 million public-school students were due to begin in early September. However, the start of classes has been postponed indefinitely.
Thousands of teachers have joined protests across the country since mid-September.
Africanews, citing AFP, reported that the movement has spread from Tripoli in western Libya to Benghazi in the east.
Libya teachers strike spreads across country
Teachers are demanding higher wages and equal treatment under the salary system for state employees.
The movement began at the grassroots level. It has since gained the support of Libya’s teachers’ union.
A large demonstration was held outside government headquarters in Tripoli this week. Thousands had also joined protests the previous week.
Fatima Ali, a teacher in Tripoli, told AFP that educators were protesting to demand their rights.
She called for teachers to receive salary increases similar to those given to other public-sector employees.
Teachers demand higher salaries
The union says differences between public-sector salaries leave teachers at a disadvantage.
Achraf Abou Raoui, a spokesman for the Libyan general teachers’ union, said teachers want fair pay and better living conditions as they face inflation.
According to Abou Raoui, a public-school teacher earns between 1,000 and 2,500 Libyan dinars per month. That is around $155 to $390.
Teachers are also demanding medical coverage, which the union says educators have sought for years.
In addition, they want compensation for overtime.
Public schools remain affected
Abou Raoui said the Libya teachers strike has received full participation among public-sector teachers.
Private schools have not joined the strike.
He said Libya’s education sector employs nearly half a million teachers and administrative workers.
According to the union spokesman, this is the first strike of its kind to receive such broad support.
Education ministry discusses demands
Libya’s Tripoli-based education ministry has held several meetings on teachers’ demands for health insurance.
However, according to the report, the ministry has not yet commented on their salary demands.
Officials have also proposed changes to the school calendar.
These could include cancelling holidays to make up for classes missed during the Libya teachers strike.
The dispute comes as Libya remains politically divided between the UN-recognised government in Tripoli, led by Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah, and a rival administration in the east backed by military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Despite that division, the teachers’ protest movement has attracted participation in different parts of the country.