Principals who Didn't Close Schools for Annunciation Holiday Penalized
Education Minister Elias Bou Saab on Wednesday decided to penalize the principals of 24 private schools that did not abide by a decree to close educational institutions on the occasion of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary feast.
The minister decided to “stop accepting the signatures of the principals of around 24 private schools across Lebanon due to their blatant violation of a decree by the council of ministers that specifies the official holidays,” Bou Saab's office said in a statement.
The decree stipulates “suspending classes during official holidays, including Annunciation,” it noted.
The minister's statement noted that the school officials “had signed declarations in which they pledged to respect the applicable laws and regulations.”
On March 14, Prime Minister Tammam Salam issued an administrative memo calling for the closure of all public administrations on the occasion of the Annunciation holiday.
Bou Saab gave the violators a 10-day deadline to “go to the ministry and sign pledges that they will not commit new violations during the upcoming holidays.”
If a principal does not sign the pledge within the grace period, they would be permanently suspended and the school would be obliged to suggest a new principal, according to the minister's statement.
The minister called on principals to “abide by the decisions and decrees issued by the cabinet or face accountability.”
On February 18, 2010, Saad Hariri's government declared the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary as both a Christian and Muslim official holiday.
The country marks the feast on March 25 every year and state administrations and public and private schools close for the occasion.
Y.R.
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/173091 |