Summary:

On 6 January 2025, the union representing substitute teachers and some full-time teachers began a strike, boycotting the return of courses after the first trimester holiday. 

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The strike came in response to the non-payment of salaries and long-standing disagreements over the nature of contracts for substitutes.  

President Kais Saied responded by issuing a decree approving the recruitment of substitute teachers and professors in public schools and recalling the importance of the ongoing effort toward a comprehensive reform of the education system. 

Substitute teachers praised the President’s decision, however, education inspectors protested a day later to call for the regularization of their status and their official assignment, as it was decided for teachers and professors. 

Outlook: 

The handling of the issue of substitute teachers by President Saied directly and without mediation by the Ministry of Education is likely to increase the popularity of the President, but will include an expansion of the already unwieldy public wage bill. It will also further confirm this mode of unilateral governance at the long-term expense of institutional checks and balances.  

While this decision was aimed to reduce tensions in the education sector, it is likely to encourage other government departments and unions to protest hoping for the President to intervene directly on their behalf. 

With the current financial difficulties pushing the state to seek external and internal loans, it is risky for the state to expand recruitment of public employees. 

However, long-term solutions to stabilizing the education system are essential as continued threats of strikes and disruptions to classes will continue to frustrate communities and prompt outcry. 

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