اللجنة الوطنية لإحياء نقابة المعلمين في الاردن

اللجنة الوطنية لإحياء نقابة المعلمين في الاردن

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منتدى يسعى لاحياء نقابة المعلمين في الاردن من خلال الوسائل السلمية

رسالة اللجنة

العمل على إحياء نقابة للمعلمين تحت ظل راية قائد الوطن جلالة الملك عبدالله الثاني حفظة الله ورعاةبحيث تساند المعلمين وتطالب بكافة حقوقهم وتهتم بتطوير المهنة ومهارات التعليم واساليبه وتعالج المشاكل والعقبات التي تواجهة المهنة والمعلم معاً

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30 ايار يوما لكرامة المعلم

اعلان 30- ايار من كل عام يوماً لتجديد العهد وميثاق الشرف بالحفاظ على كرامة المعلم منطلقاً من اهمية المعلم ودورة الريادي في بناء المجتمع والاجيال القادمة وتيمناً بذكرى الاعتصامات التي اطلقها معلمين الاردن لتحقيق مطالبهم بإحياء نقابتهم وتحسن اوضاعهم المعيشيه

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مشروع قانون نقابة المعلمين الأردنيين لسنة 2011

مشروع قانون نقابة المعلمين الأردنيين لسنة 2011 المادة (1) : يسمى هذا القانون ( قانون نقابة المعلمين الأردنية لسنة/2011 ) ويعم...

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ملف خاص بتحقيقات صحيفة الدستور القسم الاجنبي حول قضية نقابة المعلمين - منى عواد مهم - جديد

Teachers’ association and the Ministers’ slip

Muna Awwad – March 22, 2010

Just like all other professional sectors of Jordan’s society, teachers are suffering from a bad and

deteriorating financial and social situation with low salaries, high prices and more; however,

as an exceptional case, teachers in Jordan, unlike all other teachers around the world, are still

deprived, officially, from their right to establish a professional association to unite them, speak

out for them, provide them with financial supports and defend their rights.

Although this issue remained controversial for years, causing a continuous conflict between the

society and the succeeding governments; the newly launched battle on the issue ended up with a

semi-war in the Jordanian society.

The official refusing position to the establishment of an association for teachers goes back

to the sixties of the past century; the first and last Jordanian Teachers Association (JTA) was

established during the fifties and was dissolved by an official decision in the sixties during the

period when freedoms in Jordan were witnessing a retreat; after all those years, although other

professionals were allowed later on to form their own associations, almost 150 thousand teachers

in Jordan remain until this day the only sector not allowed to form an organizational body.

After failing to improve their bad living situation, teachers made their first attempt in the

nineties to call for their right to form an association, as freedoms and democracy in Jordan

were considered to be improved. In 1993, teachers collected 68 thousand teachers signatures

and raised them with a memorandum to the parliament; however, the Higher Council for

the Interpretation of the Constitution (HCIC), which is the committee with the power of the

constitution and law, considered the request unconstitutional.

“Reading the teachers’ situation, the democracy Jordan is said to be experiencing is actually

a fake one; as long as the state has the right to select and decide who is allowed to enjoy this

freedom and prevent certain groups from being part of it, then it is actually not a real freedom;

it’s still a state-controlled speech and activity.” Mr Hikmat, a former teacher and an academic

commented to The Star.

Once again, teachers are now going through their second national attempt to regain their right

to form an association; last month a Preparatory Committee Calling for the Establishment of a

Teachers Association (PCTA) was formed to follow up this issue.

Spokesperson of PCTA Sharaf Abu Rumman said to The Star “teachers have no option but

reviving their association, as long as the budget of the Ministry of Education (MoE) lacks

to meet our living ambitions, our social image, and our qualification am training abilities;

especially that all teachers cannot find until now a logical reason for prohibiting their

association.”

HCIC’s decision said “establishing an association for teachers opposes the nature of the teaching

profession and is inconsistent with the Constitution; teachers are considered public employees,

which means that their loyalty and organizational background should only be to the state.”

For the past 3 weeks, PCTA called on all teachers around the Kingdom to hold meetings to

discuss future mechanisms; in response, Minister of Education Ibraheem Badran, revealing the

state’s fear from politicizing education, announced that “not establishing a teachers association

goes back to professional and legal reasons; associations all over the world are formed on

political basis and ideological approaches; our ministry cannot allow the students to be subject to

different political stances that exist in the associations due to such situation’s negative reflections

on the core of the educational process.”

For his part, analyst Fahed Khitan, said “we have other professional associations in Jordan,

and they’ve been politicized since their establishments and yet this did not distract their role

in defending their professional rights; the Engineers Association (JEA), which includes almost

the same number as teachers, and it has never caused any threat towards the state’s security and

stability although it is politicized.”

President of JEA, Abdullah Obeidat, condemned the Minister’s statement on the associations’

political approaches as if they have no role in society or in supporting their members

although “the associations have rescued thousands of members in light of the failure of the

government’s economic and social policies.” According to Obeidat.

Khitan added “in the developed countries, there is no professional sector anymore without

an association; associations have even become more active than parties as they form the main

bridge between the society and the government and their absence actually indicates an imbalance

in the relationship and leads to unhealthy results.”

Badran added “Teachers will search for support from political forces which will ruin the

objectives of education; another reason is that an association will not suit the requirements

of the daily educational process, if the association called for a strike, for example, this will

negatively effect students; teachers cannot be compared to other professions as the 3 parties

of the educational process are students, teachers, and the government unlike other professions

where the relation would only be between the members of an association and the association

itself without any effect against the goals and spirit of the working process as would happen

in the case of a teachers association where the students will be the victims of any negative

circumstances.”

For his part, Abu Rumman assured that the state’s fears are not built on solid logics. “We want

an association in order to regulate our profession, and not politicize it; a teacher would, through

the association, gain his full rights which would urge him then to conduct his full duties.”

In agreement, Jordanian teachers have different things in their minds than the state is focusing

on; Mazen Khatib, a teacher, said “teachers are in need to improve their economic situation; an

association would deduct a percentage from our salaries to invest; without an association there is

no way to improve our living conditions and provide a decent early retirement.”

Another teacher, Maamun Hamed, referred to other associations’ success in supporting their

members financially; “the existing associations have created a capital that enabled them to invest

for the benefit of their members; such assistance cannot be provided by MoE; on the contrary the

image of the teacher is rather becoming worse in society as a result of teachers’ social, economic

and educational situation.”

Another teacher, Ensaf said “how can the state doubt our loyalty and love for the country while

we teachers are the ones who build the inside of all people in this country.”

Badran referred to the Ministry’s efforts to create an alternative for teachers to compensate their

loss of having an association.

“There is no role made by an association that the Ministry cannot achieve; for this reason, the

Ministry formed clubs for teachers all over the country in order for them to find a free platform

where they can express their opinions, suggestions, and demands with regard to any issue related

to their professional and educational lives; in addition to that, the Ministry is currently working

on the implementation of the second stage of the educational development project which focuses

on the methods to improve the professional level of teachers and provide them with a free and

decent living.”

However, teachers believe that neither the government was able to allocate a sufficient budget

for their benefit, nor the clubs played the role that teachers were hoping for.

“Let us not go too far, for two weeks in a row, as we intended to hold a joint meeting inside

our ‘free’ clubs in order to revive the idea of the association as a demand sought for by most

teachers, the clubs closed their doors in our faces, undoubtedly by the Ministry’s decision, and

everyone witnessed that we held our meetings on the streets near the club; is this the platform

available for us to freely express our opinions? This is not to mention the very bad financial

situation we have been suffering for years without any attention made by the government to

change that.” Bassam Atieh, a teacher member of PCTA said to The Star.

Not allowing the teachers to hold their meetings inside the teachers club in Amman for two

Saturdays in a row was considered an official response by MoE to the teachers attempt to revive

their association; a step after which most teachers threatened to withdraw from the membership

of the club.

Abu Rumman said to The Star “this act made the teachers feel that MoE dealt with them in an

offensive way; specially that they’ve always felt that the club was theirs and for their service;

this had built a relation of enmity between both sides and closed all doors in front of dialogue;

instead closing the club’s doors in the face of teachers, the Minister should have tackled the

dangers of the teaching profession’s reality and adopted teachers’ views and spoke on their

behalf.”

Secretary General of MoE Fawwaz Jaradat assured to The Star that the club closed due to an

event that took place inside the club at the same time. “The event was planned before ahead;

teachers can go to the Ministry itself and speak with the Minister on the issue of the association;

the Ministry’s doors are always open for its partners, teachers and students.”

PCTA members however, assured that MoE made the event on purpose; it therefore decided to

form branches in all governorates to continue coordination until they reach the establishment of

an association.

In another context, observers and analysts believe that the problem exists in the fact that MoE

views JTA as an institutional body including 150 thousand teachers, which would form a

pressure on the Ministry’s decisions.

Educational expert, Nizam Mahdawi, told The Star “in light of the current political and regional

conditions, the state is afraid party forces would control and dominate the educational sector and

politicize it and of course the reflection of that on the students who can be formed and influenced

according to the teacher’s visions and thoughts.”

Mahdawi pointed out however that this is not an accurate calculation of the issue. He said “the

state’s position in this term is not quite right because in Jordan, even the political forces and

parties are not active enough to make any influence; they can all be controlled and monitored

anyways.”

MP Ali Dalaeen, head of the education committee in the dissolved parliament, said “the lower

house had long made strong efforts to support the establishment of an association for teachers

but the efforts each time were faced by a governmental refusal; and always for the same reasons

determined by the HCIC, but we cannot understand how engineers and doctors not only can join

but are even prohibited to practice their profession unless they are members in an association and

teachers, on the other hand, cannot form one.”

Observers assure that there is no legal text that opposes the formation of an association. Former

President of the Lawyers Association, Saleh Armouti, tolf The Star “there is no constitutional or

legal article that prohibits the establishment of such an association; and what proves that is the

existence of associations for other professions, and this is according to the constitution; actually

the government’s decisions are rather unconstitutional because the constitution itself says that

Jordanians have this right as long as they seek legal objectives; in addition to that, refusing

teachers’ demand, is a violation to the International Declaration of Human Rights.”

Armouti added “the government’s stance is based on political reasons not legal ones; although

teachers’ main goal is finding an umbrella to defend their rights and protect them.”

Khitan explained the situation saying “when JTA was dissolved in the sixties, it was internally

facing party conflicts and the government used these conflicts as a reason to dissolve it; but now,

time has changed, teachers are not like they were before, their priorities changed, their concerns

have multiplied, and the educational sector faced deep turning points; now they have different

dreams and ambitions.”

“If the government of Samir Rifai overcame the traditional stance of rejecting the establishment

of an association for teachers and opened a dialogue on this issue with the founding members far

away from the fears that are keeping us behind development, this government will strongly enter

into history.”

Mansour, a member of PCTA, said “we will continue calling for this right through legal and

constitutional channels until the dream comes true.”

Abu Rumman also said “the Ministry does not have the authority to decide on the establishment

of an association; we are making efforts addressed to HCIC to revise its decision; we are not

even addressing the Ministry.”

In a totally unexpected follow up to the issue; a statement made by Badran during one of his

comments on the issue exploded a new crisis between the teachers sector and the Minister

and the government as a whole; Badran was quoted saying “teachers should take care of their

appearance and shave their beards before demanding to establish an association.” A statement

which was considered by teachers humiliating to the Jordanian society as a whole and not only to

them.

After this incident, teachers in the southern governorates went on strike and suspended their

classes calling on Badran to resign immediately; and this was the second crisis by which MoE

creates a conflict between sectors in the society and the government after the Secondary Exams

Scandal.

The anger did not calm down after Badran officially apologized saying “my words were removed

out of their context; I meant that the teachers should be models for their students in all fields

including appearances; and if my words were misunderstood, I apologize.”

Abu Rumman however, assured that the continuing strikes have no relation with the demands

for forming an association. “The statements have distracted us away from our main demand for

an association; PCTA issued a statement calling on teachers to resume their classes as we don’t

want students to be victims of this conflict.”

At the same time Abu Rumman said that the teachers’ reactions are not surprising in light of

their situations and pressure; “It was not that easy for us to influence the angry teachers to stop

their strikes; we have warned before from the bad situation of teachers which created a state

of pressure among them that has exploded now which is understandable in light of their bad

conditions; the Minister should resign to calm them down after insulting them.

President of the Association of Private School Owners, Munther Sorani, also believed that the

current state of disorder is a result of the Ministry’s refusal to the teachers’ demands from the

first place in addition to its lack to fulfill many of their rights.

After the statement, the threats made previously by teachers to resign from the teachers club

became reality as a number of teachers withdrew in protest against Badran’s insult; while

teachers in the governorates assured they will resume striking until an association is established.

Teacher Mohammed Mansur told The Star “they were afraid a real association would call for

a strike among teachers; teachers are now saying that they can go on strike with or without an

association; and here they are striking until they gain their rights.”

Teachers want association, not allowance

Muna Awwad – June 7, 2010

In order to make their selves clear, teachers resumed their actions in demand for a Teachers

Association, after the Government’s decision on the issue came with an allowance; this time,

however, not only the teachers’ actions and protests were stronger, but the Government’s

reaction was also unexpected in light of some arrests and disturbances practiced against the

protesting teachers.

A couple of months ago, Jordanian teachers started a series of wide strikes and protests calling

for their officially deprived right to form a Jordanian Teachers Association (JTA) like all other

sectors in society, followed by a wave of anger towards the Minister of Education’s statements,

which they considered insulting; the situation forced the Government to open a dialogue with the

teachers through meetings with the representatives of the National Preparatory Committee for

Reviving the Teachers Association (PCTA), after which teachers gave the Government a period

of time limit to fulfill their demands.

Promising to look into their requests and calls, especially after HM King Abdullah II called

for improving teachers’ conditions and be just to them, the Cabinet announced on May 30th

that it will grant a 15 percent salary increase for teachers starting June, and another 5 percent

next October; a step which was considered a silencing move to keep the teachers quite on their

demand for an association.

On May 30th, the time limit determined by teachers had ended without any progress on the

association issue, which stroke a stronger series of protests on the same day among teachers in

all different governorates of the Kingdom; including an act of strike coinciding with the final

exams of schools, making a deeper pressure on the situation.

“The allowance approved by the Government has not come up with something new or special;

it has always been and is still an acquired right for all teachers that should have been granted

before years; it’s actually a delay in decision.” Spokesperson of the PCTA of Karak, Muath

Battoush, said.

For his part, Ahmad Abu Hassan, Spokesperson of the PCTA in Southern Shuna , said “if we

look at teachers basic salaries, which are way too low, the allowance would sum up to be about

JD3 or so; why weren’t they clear enough to announce that they will give teachers a raise of

JD3? They just used nice words to distract teachers from their right to form an association.”

Mamdouh Khreisha, member of PCTA of Muwaggar, also explained to The Star “during

our previous meetings with the government, they promised to grant us an unbelievable raise;

and although the raise was so low, in light of our low salaries, and compared to other state

employees, it wasn’t even granted to us at once, but divided into different pays on the long term;

this reflects a state of non respect to us and our role in society.”

In agreement, teachers’ main slogans, during a mass protest they organized on June 2 in front

of the Prime Ministry, said “we refuse the government’s policies of improving teachers’

conditions only financially; a teacher has a moral right as well; we want an association and not

an allowance.”

Natheer Anawseh, President of the teachers follow-up committee, said to The Star “accelerating

actions are also part of our rights to expression, guaranteed by the constitution; we totally give

up any financial demands in return for an association.”

Anawseh also criticized ignoring teachers’ role in preparing the educational policies in Jordan.

The teachers main demands focused on reviewing the salaries scale; treating teachers’ children

on the basis of the royal honor in terms of university studies as the children of the armed forces

are treated; creating a legal affairs unit in all educational directorates to specialize in any

conflicts between teachers and students, or teachers themselves; establishing an association for

teachers with financial and administrative independence, where the council is elected by teachers

themselves all over the kingdom; providing decent and suitable housing for all teachers; and

increasing the allowances of education and housing.

“The teachers’ financial and social conditions should be improved as well; they should have

a role in preparing the curriculums; and their right to expression; why are teachers the only

ones who cannot protest? When we started our protests, many principals were ordered by the

government to close the school doors and not let many teachers out before 2:00 p.m.” Abu

Hassan said.

President of PCTA of Irbed, said “The Government’s ignoring our demands has become clear;

after two whole months of meetings with our committees without bringing out any serious

results to reassure teachers in the fields that the Government is seriously thinking of a solution.”

Adding “the government kept giving imaginary promises that were never documented in official

papers, as a clear escape from responsibility; students interests are now in the hands of the

government.”

Although all concerned officials at the Ministry of Education were either out of contact, or

considered themselves not responsible to comment to The Star on this issue, the official reasons

mentioned for the prohibition of establishing a teachers association goes back to the nature

of the teachers’ profession, as state employees, the students’ involvement as victims to any

consequences, and the fear from politicizing the association and affecting the educational life

and students with any political scenes; establishing a JTA was therefore considered by official

authorities an unconstitutional request.

For his part, former President of the Lawyers Association, Saleh Armouti, told The Star “there

is no constitutional or legal article that prohibits the establishment of such an association; and

what proves that is the existence of associations for other professions, and this is according to

the constitution; actually the government’s decisions are rather unconstitutional because the

constitution itself says that Jordanians have this right as long as they seek legal objectives; in

addition to that, refusing teachers’ demand, is a violation to the International Declaration of

Human Rights.”

Armouti added “the government’s stance is based on political reasons not legal ones; although

teachers’ main goal is finding an umbrella to defend their rights and protect them.”

Abu Hassan assured to The Star “personally, if I felt at any second that my association is

politicized, I will withdraw directly from it; we are calling for a professional organizational body

to improve teachers conditions and defend their rights.”

Khreisha, for his part, said “what exactly do they mean by politicizing the association? we are

way too patriot to lead the association to any point against our national identity; Jordan is the

basic point of all, and our association is meant to be a national one; we are rather enemies to all

those who seek any other form of association.”

The Government also vowed to study all possibilities to create an alternative for teachers to

compensate their loss of having an association, such as forming unions for teacher.

However, teachers refused such a solution completely. “Teachers unions are bodies controlled

with a certain system; and the government is able at any time to change the system; such a

suggestion is completely unacceptable.” Said Mustafa Rawashdeh, leading member of PCTA.

Abu Hassan, for his part, said “the problem is not the naming; they can choose whatever name

they want, union, club, or association; the problem is with the law organizing our body; the law

has to be constitutional and guarantees our independence.”

For his part, Khreisha told The Star “even the unions were not suggested in a serious manner;

they were just mere announcements here and there, we did not see anything; we want real

discussions, and in-depth sessions to see what their suggestion is all about.”

Right after the time limit ended, teachers fulfilled their promise and went down to the streets

in hundreds all over the Kingdom starting on May 30th an open strike until their demands, of

which the most important is their association, are achieved. PCTA committees of Ajloun, Karak,

Aqaba, Salt, Amman, Irbed, Petra, Ramtha, and Tafila started a street revolution in which some

of them held an open strike, although students are attending their final exams; some schools were

forced to substitute the teachers with administrative employees to resume examinations.

“We announce our nonnegotiable adherence to the decisions taken by teachers during our first

conference before two months; the date determined to the Government to achieve our demands

has ended, and so we announce the suspension of our dialogue with the Government until it

reviews its decisions and be just to teachers according to HM King Abdullah II’s directives.” A

statement by the PCTA of Aqaba, issued on May 31st, read.

“JTA is a main goal; the government must accept this demand and discuss it in details with

PCTA instead of keep escaping from it.” Said Jihad Sharaa, member of PCTA.

For their part, teachers of Salt said “the government’s ignorance to our demands is not but a

clear provocation towards teachers in order for them to yield to what it decides without any

consideration to our legal and constitutional rights.”

Some other teacher, on the other hand, such as those of Petra, although assuring their adherence

to their demands, decided to postpone the strikes to the beginning of the new school year, if their

demands were not fulfilled.

In another context, teachers of Irbed reported that security officials have detained some 12 of the

protesting teachers for about two hours, during their participation in a gathering in front of the

Irbed’s educational directorate on May 31st.

PCTA considered such security actions as an insult to teachers and that they will take

accelerating steps, accordingly.

Head of the Irbed PCTA, Ahmad Jaafra told The Star “the way the Government dealt with the

teachers issue does not line up with the role that the teacher plays in society; this is an insult; the

government always enlarges the mistakes it sees committed by teachers but never stands in such

a strong way against any violations committed against teachers by students or their parents.”

Teachers in Southern Shuna faced other interrupting measurements. “While we were protesting

in front of the educational directorate in Shuna, the director of the education department ordered

his employees to tear down our slogans during the protest.” Abu Hassan, told The Star.

In an accelerating move, PCTA called on all teachers around the Kingdom to gather in front of

the Prime Ministry on June 2 to address the Prime Minister directly; the protest was attended

by hundreds of teachers, although the number was about to reach more than a thousand if some

teachers had not been distrusted and sent back by security crossings on their way from the

governorates to Amman.

Spokesperson of the PCTA of Tafila, Mustafa Huneifat, descried the June 2nd protest as

the ‘Knowledge Line Convoy’ saying “PCTA committees of all governorates, after their separate

protests around the kingdom each in his district, have moved to the capital Amman within the

Knowledge Line Convoy in order to unite into one mass gathering to scream out the same call

for the sake of establishing JTA.”

Some teachers from Karak, Irbed, and Ajloun were not able to reach Amman for the protest due

to the security measures on heir way.

“On our way to Amman to participate in the protest, we were surprised to see a number

of security officers stopping us, detaining our car and accusing us of practicing illegal

transportation.” Said member of Irbed PCTA, Sami Kanaan.

Mohammed Hijjawi, a teacher, said “the way they dealt with us was humiliating and contradicts

the government’s statements on the importance of teachers dignity; we were summoned and

warned not to participate in the protest.”

From Karak as well, Omar Adayleh, said “we were subject to security interruptions when we

departed Karak; our IDs were withdrawn.”

For his part, a security source in Karak assured to The Star that “the teachers were not stopped

on purpose; what had happened was only a police related procedure; and we have no reason to

interrupt the protest.”

In another context, some of the students families called on the government to find a fast solution

for the teachers crisis in order to guarantee the continuation of the educational process and the

students’ examination.

Hijjawi said “the teachers’ image is being distracted through many claims that teachers have left

their schools and left their students during examination time; this is not true; the teachers who

participated in all protests have completed their duties of monitoring the exams and then after

that they practiced their right to protest.”

This explains why many student parents, on the other hand, are blaming teachers themselves for

causing any educational problem for their students.

Abu Ghaith, a parent, even decided to gather many supporting parents and raise a lawsuit against

teachers. He told The Star “I agree they have a right to demand their constitutional rights but I

am against the method they followed to do that, which was harmful to the students.”

Abu Hassan assured to The Star that there was a misunderstanding “first of all we did not start

any actions before 9:30, which is after the examination; second of all, the exams were scheduled

to start on June 2, and the government set them forth two days earlier.”

Abu Ghaith however, assured that his children came back from school at 8:00 a.m. “I am sure

they hadn’t taken an exams by 8:00; I have 16 supporting parents and we are waiting for the

number to become more in order to raise a lawsuit against those teachers for harming our

students; and this will be soon.”

Abu Lutfi, a parent of 3 students, said “we realized what the teachers did even before getting an

association; they behaved in a total indifference to our children’s education; what shall we expect

from them after they get an association? They are just finding any justifications to leave their

works.”

On the other hand, teachers were surprised from such reactions. Abu Ayham, a teacher,

said “why didn’t the parents cry out before two months when we were calling on the government

to solve the issue earlier in order for us not to reach this point? Are the parents ready to stand

with us in the protest for our rights as we are ready to complete the educational process?”

adding “parents should be aware that an association would hold any teacher accountable for any

violation more than the Ministry.”

For their part, parents had another opinion; Sanaa, a parent, said “It’s shameful to use students

and their examination as a tool to pressure the government.”

Some teachers, however, do not even consider themselves a part of a strike; “it was just a

message to deliver to the government; I don’t even call it a protest nor a strike; we did not harm

the students; me and my colleagues performed our duties completely and then went out with a

message to deliver.”

Another teacher said “teachers’ comfort and good situation has its reflection on the students and

their knowledge? I don’t understand how some parents are not aware that this is for the benefit

of their children; the Ministry of Education does not defend the teachers rights as would the

association.”

Columnist Ahmad Abu Khalil commented on the issue saying “it seems that teachers today

have accumulated, through their first and short organized move, an experience that made

them qualified to continue with a pure and successful move towards an association; they have

overcame the Jordanian issue of southerners and northerners; they are today a national social

body working in harmony; the teachers revolution forms a penetration of unity into society; for

this reason, at least, we should be grateful for them; and recognize their simplest ights.”

Government v. Teachers: No end in sight

Muna Awwad – July 19, 2010

After a series of positive initiatives offered by the Government to the teachers sector, by

providing them with some of their previously deprived rights, a sudden announcement of

referring a number of teachers to early retirement had shocked the sector, as the decision was

considered an act made on purpose against the teachers’ insistence on their demand for a

Teachers Association.

On its session held Sunday July 11, the Cabinet announced its decision to refer about 30 teachers

to early retirement starting July 8; out of those, 15 teachers who are active members in the

National Committee to Revive the Teachers Association (NCRTA), were referred to early

retirement without personally requesting such a status, which is usually granted upon request.

"Referring to early retirement is usually hard to get; each year, thousands of teachers request

early retirement and only some of them gain it; how can 15 members of NCRTA be referred

without even requesting early retirement? The weird part is also that the decision was made

on July 8, the same day students completed their final exams; so that the Government would

keep the educational process on the safe side, since it is aware that the decision is unjust and

arbitrary; the government did not stop at referring to early retirement, but also transferred some

active teachers to new places of services, without their request; and we are expecting a new list

according to some sources, of active teachers to be subject soon to more unfair governmental

decisions." Said Qaseem Bunayyan, a leading member of NCRTA.

Ministry of Education (MoE) completely refused to comment on the issue to The Star assuring

that the official statement is only that of the Government Spokesperson Nabil Sharif, who

said “the process of referring teachers to early retirement is a normal matter and a step that had

always been taken since the establishment of the Jordanian administration; and it is usually made

upon the public interest without targeting a particular person or group and is done according to

the law.”

Adding “yearly, and according to the size of employees at the MoE, a number of teachers is

referred and the Government therefore refuses politicizing the decision or viewing such a topic

from a political point of view; this is a mere administrational decision; the latest refers have been

prepared for months and have nothing to do with any latest developments or events.”

Many referred teachers expressed that after the latest governmental decision in their favor, they

are surprised from this step which they considered a punishment by the Government for their

constitutional demand for an association.

Teacher Firas Khateeb, told The Star "although the latest privileges offered to teachers were

deserved rights for teachers anyways, and not a gift by the government, but rather delayed

rights; we were celebrating the gains and hailing King's efforts in our favor; we held a series

of activities all over the Kingdom in celebration; but then we realized that the Government had

hidden intentions of revenge towards teachers; this created a state of non trust to the Government

and we are expecting this wave to continue by the Government; however."

In agreement, Bunayyan said "the decision came at times when we are so satisfied with the

Royal Makruma made for teachers; for which we held voluntary activities, such as blood

donations; we intended to delay our actions for an association to after the elections, but we were

surprised with a decision that was not even studied by the cabinet."

Khateeb explained how dull the decision was after teachers decided to calm down on their

demands; "we had agreed to postpone our actions until after the parliament was formed; but our

happiness and satisfaction from the government's understandings was assassinated by that last

decision; this proves the government's obsession, repression and martial laws."

NCRTA, for its part, condemned the decision pointing out that it will seek justice and local and

international Human Rights Organizations.

President of NCRTA, and one of the referred teachers, Mustafa Rawashdeh told The Star "this

is an unprecedented decision; usually referring to early retirement comes upon the teachers'

request, or for punishment purposes in case a teacher has problems in his file; and all the activists

who were included in the decision had very clean files; we assure that this is a political decision

and not an administrational one; and I assure that never had the Ministry made such a decision

without receiving a request or for health reasons in all its history; for this reason we will study

raising a lawsuit against the Minister this week."

Rawashdeh explained how the decision will affect the teachers financially. "Referring to early

retirement means receiving only 30% of your salary each month." He said.

For this reason NCRTA decided to establish a fund for teachers who were affected by the

decision. "The government had interfered in the economic conditions of those teachers by

breaking down their salaries; we will therefore create a fund to financially support them; the fund

will be called the Social Solidarity Fund for Teachers." Said Bunayyan.

As the referred teachers vowed to raise a lawsuit against the Minister of Education, and almost

41 lawyers expressed interest to adopt this case, President of the Lawyers Association, Ahmad

Tubeishat, explained to The Star that his association's stances will be with justice and law. He

said "Legal wise, the Minister has the right to refer any employee to early retirement under

the condition that this refer would not be an arbitrary act of using this right; on the other hand,

teachers also have the right to raise a lawsuit against the Minister and if it was proven that

the decision was arbitrary or political and not based on technical, educational, or professional

reasons, our Association would in this case support the teachers in this lawsuit as this is

considered their right; and the legal reference for this issue will remain the Supreme Court of

Justice, who shall decide if the decision was arbitrary and in this case shall immediately cancel

the decision."

For his part, Khateeb explained to The Star that the legal side of the issue was also

imprecise. "The civil service law had previously stated that the Minister has no right to refer

an employee to retirement without a reason; the law was amended lately, not long ago, to give

the Minister this right; however, other newly amended articles in the law were not taken into

consideration; and from this point our lawyers will appeal the case."

“Only noble citizens are the ones who pay the price of changes in society, for this reason, the

latest government decisions are considered a medal and honor for those teachers who were

punished by the decision, because they called for the rights of their colleague teachers; the

government always proves that it is an obstacle in front of democracy an freedom by creating

internal crisis in society; if the government did not retreat from its oppressive decisions, it will

be held responsible for the political and social circumstances for such wrong steps.” Said Ayman

Okour, member of NCRTA in Irbed.

"They took the decision during the vacation on purpose as they thought we did not have a

weapon to use; but the school year is coming and NCRTA will decide on what actions to take;

we have not taken a decision until now yet because we are giving the Government a time limit to

review its decision."

Press sources also assured that the MoE is preparing a new list of teachers whose services will be

ended by the Ministry including all the teachers who were active in previous protests and strikes

held by teachers.

NCRTA decided to carry out a series of escalated actions starting the new school year including

strikes in schools all over the kingdom, boycotting parliamentary elections, and holding protests

in front of the Prime Ministry and MoE.

Khateeb said "as decided by NCRTA, the referred teachers will maintain their positions in

NCRTA as if they are still serving, as we will not recognize such an arbitrary decision; we

will study the possibility of boycotting elections based on the fact that we do not trust such a

Government to lead a transparent electoral process in light of its unqualified decision; and we

assure on the popular dimension of our issue calling on all parties and social activities to stand

with us as this is a governmental campaign against democracy in Jordan."

"Our actions at the committee will not be affected by such decisions; we will also seek the next

parliament; and start a series of pressuring actions through strikes and protests." Said Khateeb.

Adding "we also contacted Arab and international NGOs, and until now almost 14 of them from

Arab and Foreign countries had a clear stance calling on the Government to solve the teachers

issue and establish a Teachers Association which is obligatory according to the agreements

internationally signed by Jordan."

Political Parties and popular committees supported teachers in their demands and their anger

towards the last decision.

"Teachers' activities come within their role towards their colleague teachers who have elected

them and commissioned them to defend their rights, which are ignored by the Government; and

their educational files are empty of any problems; they are rather people of high qualifications

towards students; this proves the Government's on purpose decision towards which we express

our full rejection and condemnation." Said Issam Khawaja, Spokesperson of the National

Committee to Defend Bread and Democracy, of the opposition parties.

Analyst Ahmad Abu Khalil commented on the whole scene saying “the science of strike all over

the world considered suspending work a major weapon in the hands of the people, an there is

no ethical suspicion relating to it; and although Jordanian teachers have acted with high national

ethics towards students by giving up their only weapon for the benefit of the students during

the exams, they were accused of exploiting students as a tool of pressure; the latest decision

was undoubtedly a decision of displacement, which aimed to keep active teachers away from

their colleagues; and it was taken during the summer vacation in order that the vacation would

consume any reaction and it came after a series of good initiatives towards teachers; by this,

the government wanted to tell the teachers that any rights will not come in response to demands

made by activists.”

For his part, Columnist Nabil Ghishan said “usually isteeda3 comes upon the teachers request,

and what is strange here is that the government had taken the decision of isteeda3 and passed the

names of leading activists within a list of 15 other teachers who have requested to be referred to

isteeda3; in this came the refer would be a punishment; but it is really not in the benefit of the

government to make the situation worse with teachers and causing financial harm for them and

their families; their reaction will not be easy.”

Former MP Dr Mamdouh Abbadi, commented saying "first of all, teachers basically have the

right to establish an association, which is prohibited to be established by a law but is legally

allowed to be established by a system; and although there was lately a wave of agreements and

understandings between teachers and the Government, the government exploited the period

of calmness performed by teachers and took decisions against them, which is a huge mistake;

I don't understand why the association is bothering the Government; associations are not for

strikes, they are made to improve the level of the profession and improve the conditions of its

members, just like all other association."

Teachers keep up pressure for association

Muna Awwad – January 10, 2011

After building a rich history of struggles, Jordanian Teachers decided not to give up their right

to establish a teachers association; and in spite of the Government’s attempts to appease them

with symbolic financial support, teachers’ determination lead to what can be described as a wide

teachers’ movement roaming the country.

The official refusing position to the establishment of an association for teachers goes back

to the sixties of the past century; the first and last Jordanian Teachers Association (JTA) was

established during the fifties and was dissolved by an official decision in the sixties during the

period when freedoms in Jordan were witnessing a retreat.

After years, as other professionals were allowed to form their own associations, teachers

collected 68 thousand teachers signatures and raised them in 1993 with a memorandum to the

Parliament; however, the Higher Council for the Interpretation of the Constitution (HCIC),

which is the committee with the power of the constitution and law, considered the request

unconstitutional; since then, thousands of teachers in Jordan remain until this day the only sector

without an organizational body.

HCIC’s decision said “establishing an association for teachers opposes the nature of the teaching

profession and is inconsistent with the Constitution; teachers are considered public employees,

which means that their loyalty and organizational background should only be to the state.”

“This topic took more than it needs; teachers are just like other sectors and they have the full

right to have an association; saying that their association is unconstitutional is not legally

right, as all other sectors who already have an association, such as doctors, nurses..ets, also

work in the public sector.” said Hani Dahleh, President of the Arab Organization for Human

Rights. “Speaking in the context that there is a fear from politicizing the association is not quite

logical as well; all other associations have political stances and the government cannot interfere.”

Firas Khatib, leading member of the National Committee for Reviving the Teachers Association

(NCRTA) explained to The Star how HCIC’s decision has nothing to do with NCRTA’s main

demand. “HCIC’s decision was in response to a proposal by MPs on forming an association

for the teachers of the public sector, and was not speaking about an association in general; our

demand is for an association for all teachers of the Kingdom, and has a totally different legal

frame; it is based on the 16th article of the constitution and not on the 120th article according to

which HCIC made its decision.”

A while before parliamentary elections, which took place last November, teachers calmed their

actions betting on the Lower House members; however, once some MPs tried to approach this

road in line with teachers’ demands, Lower House Speaker Faisal Fayez on the 21st of December

called on MPs not to address the issue of establishing a teachers association, pointing out that

this topic includes a constitutional violation.

In response to the incident, about 700 teachers, accompanied by supporters from opposition

parties and professional associations, held a protest on Tuesday 4th of January in front of the

Parliament, reviving their struggles after finding themselves losing hope in the Lower House.

Haroun Shakhatreh, one of the teachers participating in the protest, said “I participate to assure

my adherence to the revival of an association and the necessity of the existence of the association

not only for teacher but also for the country since education is a major pillar in development; in

addition to that, I participate to protest against Fayez’s statements against our demand.”

For his part, Mustafa Rawashdeh, President of NCRTA said “Teachers chose the parliament

to hold the protest as resumption to the cooperation they started with MPs before elections,

especially that MPs showed support to the teachers’ issue; it’s now a chance for the parliament to

record a historical stance towards establishing an association for teachers.”

The protest caused Fayez to invite teachers for a meeting to discuss the issue; although teachers

refused to hold a meeting during the protest, a meeting between an 8-memers delegation of

teachers and a group of MPs preside by Fayez was held on Wednesday January 5th.

“If he wanted to meet us for our demands, he should have done that before this day; we were not

there to negotiate but to protest against his statements; however, one day after the protest, we

agreed to meet as part of our struggle to renew our demand for an association on all levels, and in

an attempt to gain support from the lower house; the association had become an urgent necessity

in light of the difficult living conditions of teacher.” Rawashdeh told The Star.

During the meeting, Fayez expressed his full support for teachers’ demands proposing several

suggestions to establish a body in line with the constitution. He said “we are willing to support

any legal framework that would fulfill teachers’ ambitions and raise the levels of their living

conditions; for this reason, we urge teachers to accept the idea of establishing a teachers union

by law that would guarantee all their demands and at the same time avoid any constitutional

violations; this can be achieved through a proposal of a draft law to be made by a minimum of 10

deputies or forwarded by the government in order to be considered by Parliament.”

Rawashdeh explained to The Star teachers’ reaction to the meeting saying “the discussions

focused on finding a legal loophole out of the ban on our association; and we promised to study

all the suggestions with teachers; we did not accept the idea of a union, and the Lower House

itself did not block the way in front of an association, they were all suggestions.”

The idea of forming a union as an alternative to an association has been proposed since the

beginning by the Government, and was always refused by teachers. “The point is not in the

name; the point is in the system and framework according to which our body is formed. We

demand that our association be formed by a law and not an order; and what we care about is the

details and content of the law and not the naming; for this reason, we have promised to study the

idea of forming a union by a law that includes all the conditions we demand; if the content was

satisfying, we are willing to give up the name.” Rawashdeh added. “and if the way was blocked

in front of the conditions we demand for, we are ready for seeking the option of announcing a

teachers association unilaterally.”

Qasim Bnayyan, leading member of NCRTA, said “our 42 committees across the Kingdom are

studying the suggested ideas with teachers of each region; we will take a decision next Saturday

January 15, and will not accept any solution except one that would guarantee our full rights.”

Dahleh commented on replacing the association with a union saying “if a union is nothing

different than an association, as the Government claims, then why wouldn’t the government

overcome the name? It’s clear that proposing the idea of a union is linked to an attempt to draft

the union in a pro-governmental way.”

Sami Kannan, one of the 8-member delegation that met Fayez, clarified to The Star the

main conditions that teachers will not give up when considering any legislation, “mandatory

membership, financial and administrative independence, free elections of the associations

council, seeking justice to resolve any dispute.”

“What freaks out the Government is the name, they want us to change the name from association

to any other framework; we say that we are not adhering to the name, if our conditions were

taken into consideration; although our fist option is an association, which can easily be made

with a constitutional amendment.”

He added “our meeting as fruitful and we appreciate that the lower house is not more flexible

to meet us unlike previous times, when we were totally ignored; we do not know if their goal is

only to show off, or if they are seriously standing with us.”

Khatib, who is another member of the delegation, also said “the meeting was positive, especially

that the lower house promised this will be a start for a series of meetings until the problem is

solved; we do not deny that the majority of teachers prefers the name ‘association’, however, we

will consider changing the name; focusing on the name causes the issue to lose its core; we care

about the content of the law; and we are currently preparing a draft law with all our conditions

and demands.”

Sharaf Abu Rumman, teacher activist, said “the Lower House has an opportunity of gold to

prove itself in front of the people; it has wide authorities to make a constitutional amendment in

order to eliminate the pretext on which the association is being refused.”

For their part, MPs showed full support to teachers until now, vowing to stand for their rights

till the end but assure that they will not by any mean violate the constitution. “Teachers’ demand

is legitimate; we must find an umbrella to regulate their interests; we MPs, however, have

swore not to violate the constitution and will not; if there was any solution such as making a

constitutional amendment, in order to solve the problem within the constitution, we will be

supporting this solution.” said MP Mifleh Ruheimi.

Head of the Parliamentary Committee of education, culture, and youth, Nidal Qatamin also

assured that MPs will take all efforts to help teachers. “We will prepare a draft law in line with

teachers’ demands, but will not violate the constitution.” he said.

In another context, another committee named ‘Teachers of Jordan Committee’ was found

issuing statements separately from NCRTA; its last statement claimed that NCRTA is occupied

by opposition parties and is not speaking on behalf of teachers. “Members of this committee

have always been against any protests and any demand for an association; their claims came

to weaken our movement; parties are all working by law, and are not in need for teachers

movement to work through it.” said Rawashdeh.

However, other teachers assured that the mentioned committee was created by the official

authorities as a counter force to NCRTA. “NCRTA was created from the field and from

the depth of teachers’ action; we have liaison officers all over the Kingdom; it’s true we

do not by any mean monopolize the right to represent teachers, and do not stand in face of

other committees, however, we assure that this committee has a political role to weaken our

movement; its members have always been against the idea of establishing an association, and

they were never punished with other teachers for any activity; they gather for their meetings in

buses of the Ministry of Education; this is a governmental attempt to cause failure for NCRTA;

members of this committee are free to express their opinions, but they do not represent teachers,

as they are even hated inside their schools; we’ve assured since the beginning of our actions that

we have not political objectives from an association, we seek professional rights.”

Bnayyan also said “Although they are our colleagues; some of them had achieved personal

benefit from working though this committee receiving high posts for example; they represent

only themselves.” adding, “we did invite all civil society organizations to support us, and some

parties were there for us, but that does not mean they occupy us; we will not prohibit any side to

stand and defend our rights.”

لقاءات - اعتصام الشموع للجان المعلمين -31-8- 2010

لقاءات - اعتصام الشموع للجان المعلمين -31-8- 2010

مسيرة ادما في صور

مسيرة ادما في صور

مسيرة التحرر من القوانين التعسفية

هل ثبت بأن اللجنة الوطنية تتحمل مسئولية الطالب أكثر من الحكومة ؟

الجعافرة يتحدث عن حراك المعلمين

الجعافرة يتحدث عن حراك المعلمين

الاستاذ احمد الجعافرة احد المحالين على الاستيداع

فعاليات اللجنة الوطنية للعطلة الصيفية مهنية وطنية انتمائية !

هل انت مع النقابة مسمى ومضمون ؟

الاستاذ محمد العميريين يتحدث عن نقابة المعلمين

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وثيقة العهد والوفاء للمعلم

وثيقة العهد والوفاء للمعلم

للمرشحين لمجلس النواب لعام 2010

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