هذه مجموعة من التقارير التي نشرت في صحيفة الدستور - القسم الاجنبي - منذ بداية حراك المعلمين 18-3-2010 ولغاية بداية عام 2011
Teachers’ association and the Ministers’ slip
Teachers’ association and the Ministers’ slip
Muna Awwad – March 22, 2010(http://www.star.com.jo/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=18014&catid=30:jordan&Itemid=109 )
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
http://star.com.jo/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19403&catid=30:jordan&Itemid=109
http://star.com.jo/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=19403&catid=30:jordan&Itemid=109
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
http://www.star.com.jo/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21128&catid=30:jordan&Itemid=109
http://www.star.com.jo/main/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21128&catid=30:jordan&Itemid=109
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.”
