SCC Announces Thursday General Strike, Studying Lawsuit to Halt Passing Statements
The Syndicate Coordination Committee announced on Tuesday a general strike that will take place on Thursday, in response to the Minister of Education's decision to issue passing statements to students who applied for official exams, declaring also that it is studying the possibility of filing a lawsuit to halt the minister's step.
The SCC revealed as well after its Tuesday meeting that it had considered withdrawing its decision to boycott the correction of official exams, before the parliament's education committee convened to legalize issuing passing statements.
"Delegates were studying means to salvage official exams... some committees were ready to correct exams and others were not...but the parliament's education committee's decision closed all doors and united the SCC's stance in this regard,” the SCC said after the meeting.
SCC members explained that boycotting official exam correction was a result of the Minister of Education's request.
“It was announced from his office. He asked us to supervise exams and boycott correction and he vowed that he will not force the SCC (to correct exams) or issue passing statements,” they noted.
“The Minister of Education and the entire cabinet are held responsible for granting passing statements to students.”
The education committee convened earlier in the day and announced that it will not withdraw Education Minister Elias Bou Saab's decision to grant Grade 9 and Grade 12 students passing statements, which will allow them to carry on with their education amid the SCC's boycott of official exam correction.
Bou Saab assured during the meeting that the decision to issue passing statements “has gone into effect and will not be withdrawn.”
"I am only taking into consideration the interest of students,” he expressed.
But the SCC stressed that it will exert all efforts to “salvage official exams and secure rights.”
"The battle is ongoing against politicians... They are held responsible because they paralyzed all state institutions and we tell them that 'you disagree in politics but you all agree on abusing our rights and on harming the SCC and official exams.'”
The Committee's members then announced a general strike at all ministries and public administrations on Thursday, and a sit-in in front of the Ministry of Economy as of 11:00 am.
The Committee also revealed during the press conference that followed its meeting that it is studying the possibility of filing a lawsuit, in cooperation with former minister Ziad Baroud, to stop Bou Saab's decision on the passing statements.
SCC members, however, vowed that the 2014-2015 academic year will kick off normally on September 1, 2014.
On the contentious new wage scale whose impasse was reflected in the official exam crisis, the SCC considered that “no parliamentary session will discuss the wage hike.
“But it will try to increase the VAT by 1%. This would mobilize the public opinion against the SCC,” they remarked.
S.D.B.
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