Teachers’ movement questions photos of classes resuming in Abu Salim
LIBYA – Wasim Kleesh, spokesman for the teachers’ movement, has accused the Abu Salim Education Control Office of publishing old photographs dating from May 2025 in a way that could suggest classes had resumed, insisting, by his account, that teaching has not actually started in the area and that teachers’ demands have yet to be met with clear implementation measures.
Accusation of using old photos
In a phone interview on the news bulletin of Libya Al-Ahrar TV, which broadcasts from Turkey — followed and summarised by Al-Marsad — Kleesh said publishing the photos was either a media error or an attempt at deception, adding that it had angered followers.
Differentials, health insurance and the Teacher Protection Law
He said the General Teachers’ Union was pressing on with its efforts amid what he described as a lack of timetables and clear instructions from the relevant authorities, noting that there had been no progress on paying the financial differentials, despite their being tallied last week, on activating health insurance or on passing the Teacher Protection Law.
He added that the only step taken so far was the referral of the class-period allowance, which has yet to reach the bank accounts of those entitled to it.
Resuming classes and making up lost learning
Kleesh said the union and the movement were ready to work with the ministry on any organisational arrangements to resume classes and make up lost learning for students, provided staff demands were met.
Legal action and acceptance of phased implementation
He said the union was preparing to approach the judicial authorities to determine who was responsible for the delay in teachers’ rights and in the start of the school year, stressing that teachers were not the cause of the disruption.
He explained that teachers and the union had accepted partial implementation of their demands, including payment of the differentials in instalments in line with the House of Representatives’ decision, faster referral of the class-period allowance, and payment of the entitlements of head teachers, their deputies and administrative staff, adding that the financial differentials remain the crux of the dispute with the executive authorities.
