📰 Unprecedented Teachers’ Protests Demand Justice and Fair Pay

In latest weeks, much of northern syria/" class="smart-internal-link" title="📰 Justice Ministry, SNHR discuss cooperation on transitional justice in Syria">syria/" class="auto-internal-link">syria has witnessed a near-total standstill in educational activity, as teachers across numerous schools have embarked on an open-concluded strike. This sweeping action arises not from whim, but from years of neglect, marked by sporadic protests and repeated appeals for fair pay—none of which have yielded substantial reform. Amid rising costs of living and stagnating salaries, teachers have now drawn a firm line in the sand. Ahmad Smi’eh, 49, a teacher at the Atma camp school, informed Ultra Syria: “Suspending education was not an easy decision.

But after years of governmental indifference to our daily struggles, we had no choice. ” He explained that his colleagues have long endured relentless pressure while earning wages insufficient to meet even basic needs. “Our goal is to protect our professional dignity and ensure that our children continue to receive an education,” he added. “This strike is our last resort to make our voices heard. ” With household costs soaring and wages increasingly inadequate, the teachers see this movement as their final stand—a declaration of their worth and their commitment to education. The mobilisation has been accompanied by a series of sit-ins, statements, and rallies, with educational communities joining troops in an unprecedented show of unity and coordination. Origins and Catalysts of the Strike Long before the fall of Assad, teachers in the north had staged numerous protests, particularly in areas under the control of Idlib’s Salvation administration. They called for fair wages and better living conditions, yet these demands were met with silence.

With the collapse of the Assad regime, teachers intensified their campaign, holding vigils outside schools and the Education Directorate in Idlib, and organising marches across the region. Yet despite the passion, their efforts persisted to fall on deaf ears. The current crisis erupted when the Finance Directorate disbursed salaries via the “Sham Cash” system—without the anticipated increases previously promised. Teachers had hoped for wage adjustments that reflected the rising cost of living, and the announcement of unchanged pay sparked a storm of anger.

Currently, teacher salaries range between $130 and $150 per month, with rural educators in Idlib earning between $115 and $130, and those in northern Aleppo receiving as little as $94. These amounts fall far below the poverty line, with monthly household expenses now exceeding $300. Food prices, rent, and daily essentials have all risen sharply, leaving teachers unable to make ends meet. “We…