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When time is ripe

Aug 26,2014 - Last updated at Aug 26,2014

The Jordan Teachers Association is being intransigent, pressing ahead with the teachers’ strike despite all efforts to end it amicably, including the intervention and mediation efforts of the speaker of the Lower House of Parliament and the House’s Educational Committee.

JTA rejected the conciliation terms suggested by Parliament, which in effect included the government’s acceptance of five of its six demands.

The sticking point that still divides JTA and the government is the annual salary increases, an issue the Ministry of Education proposed to continue discussing once the strike is over.

Teachers are an important part of society, those who shape the minds of our children and, by extension, decide the future of the country.

For educating our offspring, we are grateful to them.

However, rejecting all attempts at reconciling differences with the Ministry of Education is not being sensible.

Yes, teachers — like most citizens in the country — could do with more money, in view of the economic situation. But, also due to the state of the economy, they have to understand that, for the time being, the conditions are not favourable to salary increases.

Once the country gets its economy moving, they should be the first to be granted better living conditions. Till then, however, they need to be patient and, above all, think of the children in their care, who are deprived of the precious right to education.

Teachers’ salaries were raised considerably in 2013, despite the dire economic condition, so it is just not fair to ask for similar raises in 2014.

Schoolteachers are, after all, civil servants and the government cannot in all fairness increase the wages of one category without according others similar treatment.

The teachers’ association is fighting a losing war. Only 38 per cent of public school teachers observed the strike. 

The association would be well advised to quit its confrontation while it is ahead — having had five of its six requests met — and not risk losing all, including the support of the public by persisting in its demands.

Precious time is wasted for schoolchildren. As is, Tawjihi result are worse by the day due, in big part, to the lack of preparation of the same educators that demand more money.

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