For the Fourth Consecutive Day: Open-Ended Teachers’ Strike in Northern Syria
Welat TV – Erbil
The Free Syrian Teachers’ Union in northern Syria has announced an open-ended strike and the suspension of work since the beginning of February 2026, in protest against low wages and in demand of an urgent salary increase in line with the rising cost of living.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the strike has affected more than 1,000 schools across northern and western Aleppo countryside, Idlib governorate, and its surrounding areas, once again placing the education file at the forefront of the regional scene.
Open-Ended Strike
The statement noted that with the start of the second academic semester, hundreds of schools welcomed students with closed doors, as teachers launched an open-ended strike in response to deteriorating living conditions and the failure to implement repeated government promises to improve salaries and ensure job stability. It added that the strike “does not merely reflect teachers’ rejection of harsh living conditions, but also constitutes a call for justice and for providing an educational environment worthy of students and society.”
Teachers’ Demands
Teachers are calling for an immediate wage increase, the formal appointment of substitute teachers, and the reinstatement of dismissed staff, stressing that the strike will continue until these demands are met.
Protests on the Coast
In a related development, Latakia and Tartous governorates witnessed sit-in protests on February 1 by dozens of male and female teachers, rejecting a Ministry of Education decision to return them to their original governorates and to not renew their teaching contracts.
Promises of Salary Increases
Earlier this month, Minister of Education Mohammed Turko announced that the preparation of schedules to improve conditions for education sector employees had been completed, indicating that a salary increase would be implemented soon.
Previous Protests
In November 2025, a number of teachers in northern Syria organized a protest in front of the Directorate of Education in Aleppo city, coinciding with a two-week suspension of school attendance. Protesters raised banners calling for the formal appointment of teachers, the reinstatement of those dismissed under permanent decisions, and salary improvements in line with living costs.
Union Support for Teachers’ Demands
The Teachers’ Union in Syria reaffirmed its support for what it described as teachers’ “legitimate” demands to improve living, educational, and social conditions, emphasizing its continued efforts to achieve these goals. The statement also rejected any threats against teachers or the adoption of punitive measures against them for demanding their rights.
