A group of protesters, consisting of faculty members, teaching assistants, and top-performing students in Libya, issued a stern warning to halt the teaching process due to their dire living conditions.
The demonstration, held in front of the Prime Minister’s headquarters, emphasised their demands for improved working conditions and the resumption of the long-stalled scholarship program for studying abroad.
With more than 3,000 demonstrators in attendance, the primary demands voiced were the provision of financial allocations to expedite the processing of foreign scholarships and the urgent increase of the notoriously low salaries for teaching assistants.
According to Al-Araby newspaper, frustration was palpable as protesters called for tangible action to address these pressing issues.
One key concern raised by the protesters was the disbursement of scientific leave allowances for faculty members. However, the government’s response thus far has been disappointingly inadequate, leaving the academic community disillusioned and uncertain about the future.
Nabil Al-Hasouni, the esteemed head of the Higher Committee for Monitoring Study Missions Abroad, shed light on the forthcoming meeting of the General Secretariat of the Faculty Members Syndicate, scheduled for the 26th of this month. Al-Hasouni warned that if the meeting fails to yield concrete resolutions, a comprehensive and open sit-in may become an unavoidable course of action.
The potential consequences of such a drastic move are significant. If the protesters follow through with their threats, an estimated 27 universities and approximately 200 institutes and technical colleges may be forced to close their doors. This would tragically deprive nearly 300,000 students of their right to education, further exacerbating an already precarious situation.
While faculty protests are not uncommon in Libya, this particular movement has reached an impasse, according to Ibrahim Al-Abdali, a reporter for Al-Araby newspaper.
Consequently, the academic community finds itself compelled to escalate their actions in a bid to secure their rights. The suspension of studies in government universities and higher institutes is now being seriously considered as a means to draw attention to their plight and press for a resolution.
As the situation unfolds, the eyes of Libya’s academic sector are fixed on the outcome of the upcoming meeting. The hope is that a meaningful dialogue and concrete actions will prevail, leading to a favorable resolution that addresses the concerns of the protesters and ensures the continuation of quality education for all Libyan students.
