Lebanese teachers correct exams

The Union Coordination Committee announced Thursday that teachers will end their boycott of correcting official examinations for Grades 9 and 12. In a news conference, the union said its move to end the strike was aimed at protecting the interests of the students who sat for the examinations. Students in Lebanon must pass Grade 12 official exams to join university and Grade 9 official exams to enroll in high-school. The union added that teachers could carry out the strike again if the government fails to approve the salary scale before the end of August. The union’s announcement was expected after the Cabinet vowed Wednesday to pass a new salary scale for the public sector no later than the end of August, enabling teachers to receive a raise among other benefits. The new salary scale will allow teachers to benefit from a salary raise introduced by the government to the private sector in January. In addition to the raise, the first four pay jumps that teachers receive would increase from LL35,000 to LL40,000 each month. Teachers receive a pay raise every two years. The new salary scale will be implemented retroactively beginning with the July 1 payment. From: The Daily Star