Private schools offer backup to public Tawjihi students as teachers strike

AMMAN — As the teachers' strike has entered its second week, a number of private schools across the Kingdom have opened their doors to Tawjihi students of public schools until teachers suspend the open strike.

A number of private schools, on their websites, have welcomed Tawjihi students of government-run schools enrolled in the scientific and literary streams to attend classes for free as of September 17 outside school hours from 3:30-8:00 pm.

Embodying national and educational responsibilities towards the schoolchildren who are most affected by the teachers' strike, a number of educational initiatives have been launched since teachers of public schools started their open strike last Sunday.

To alleviate students' burdens, Zarqa's private schools, in cooperation with Zarqa Private University and the governorate's Education Development Centre, issued the "our students are our responsibility..." initiative providing the central region's students with schooling and transportation.

In separate individual initiatives, a number of teachers of public schools have given classes for Tawjihi students in a number of subjects, while refusing to teach certain courses in compliance with the decision of the Jordan Teachers' Association.

The teachers’ open strike started last Sunday and no agreement has been reached with the government regarding their demand for a 50-per cent pay raise.

The open strike was announced after a sit-in in Amman last Thursday, during which the Jordan Teachers Association claimed violations were committed against its members.

The Public Security Department denied the allegations, but confirmed that 50 teachers were detained during the protest for “illegally forcing their way through to Fourth Circle”.