Talks between gov’t, teachers continue as syndicate urges action

AMMAN — The Education Ministry said on Tuesday it is organising meetings with the Jordanian Teachers Association (JTA) council to address educators’ demands ahead of the new academic year.

Education Ministry Spokesperson Walid Jallad told The Jordan Times that a joint committee representing the ministry and the association has been formed to follow up on teachers’ demands.

Moreover, Education Minister Mohammad Thneibat has recently discussed the association’s demands with its president, Hussam Masheh. 

“The ministry has amended more than 80 per cent of the civil service by-law as requested by the association and has referred the amendments to the Civil Service Bureau for review,” Jallad said in a phone interview. 

On Monday, the JTA had said it was considering a set of escalatory measures beginning the next scholastic year if the government does not address its demands.

The association has handed the government a list of demands it believes will contribute immensly to improving the education process, JTA Spokesperson Ayman Okour said.

“The next move will be definitely agreed upon collectively by the association’s council members,” Okour told The Jordan Times.

The JTA council has requested amendments to the civil service by-law and the teachers’ fund by-law in addition to dispersing educational allowances to teachers and drafting another by-law governing private schools. 

“We have informed the government of these demands some four months ago,” he said.

Okour expressed hope that the government would consider these demands and maintain a “cooperative and positive” attitude towards the association. 

Asked about the nature of the escalatory measures the association would adopt, Okour said: “It may not necessarily come in the form of a nationwide strike but all options are there to press for our legitimate demands,” adding that students’ interests are “at the heart of any action we will adopt”.

The JTA, one of the largest syndicates in Jordan with its 140,000 members, has organised several demonstrations during the past few months in protest against the by-law, with thousands of teachers picketing the Prime Ministry in late May.