Teachers in Al Jazirah State said on Tuesday that the Ministry of Education has begun recruiting mobilized graduates to work in schools in an effort to address the shortage of teachers, a move they described as a step toward the “militarization of education” rather than a solution to the sector’s crisis.
In a statement, the teachers referred to earlier remarks by Al Jazirah State’s Acting Minister of Education, Abdullah Abu Al-Karam, who said that the ministry might resort to alternatives if teachers continue their strike in pursuit of their rights. Teachers interpreted these remarks as a threat to replace them with members of armed battalions.
The statement added that the authorities have failed to address the underlying causes of the crisis and have instead relied on temporary measures to fill staffing gaps.
Teachers stressed that the teaching profession requires proper training, experience, and professional competence. They warned that relying on individuals who lack educational qualifications could negatively affect the quality of education and represents an indication of the politicization of education and its involvement in non-professional contexts.
The teachers renewed their rejection of these measures, emphasizing that the crisis cannot be resolved by replacing educational staff. Instead, they argued, solutions should focus on improving working conditions and responding to demands related to salaries and employment benefits in order to ensure stability within the education system.
