Tripoli:The Minister of Finance in the Government of National Unity, Rashid Abu-Ghafah, has urged teachers to prioritize national and educational interests by ending their strike and returning to schools.
According to Libyan News Agency, Abu-Ghafah announced that the Ministry of Finance is set to transfer 719 million Libyan dinars for the "class-session allowance" for the 2026–2027 academic year to the Ministry of Education on Sunday. This transfer will occur alongside the disbursement of October salaries. The Ministry of Education will handle the distribution of these funds to eligible recipients based on established criteria.
Abu-Ghafah emphasized that teachers' financial demands, amounting to approximately 24 billion dinars, represent a significant fiscal obligation that is currently untenable. He highlighted that a key demand—implementing a unified salary scale—has seen progress, with a draft bill submitted to the House of Representatives for legislative action.
The ongoing strike has reportedly harmed students, depriving them of instructional time and endangering their educational future. While Abu-Ghafah acknowledged teachers' rights to advocate for their interests, he stressed that students' rights to education should not be compromised by disputes.
The Minister reiterated that returning to school does not mean abandoning teachers' demands or absolving authorities of their responsibilities. He encouraged teachers to resume their educational duties while continuing to pursue their demands through dialogue and legal channels.