HEDÎL EL-OMER

Idlib- Men and women teachers in Idlib have suffered from the worsening economic conditions that have driven them into extreme poverty. In Idlib, the pressures of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham as well as Turkish forces and Turkey-backed paramilitary groups make themselves felt in education.

33-year-old Arabic teacher Emel al-Ibrahim, who lives in the Kurkanya town of Idlib, has been looking for a job in order to practice her profession for three years. She lost her job when she was forced to leave her home in the city of Maarat al-Numan. Although she has applied to many schools in Kurkanya for jobs, she has not received a response yet. She told us that many teachers have become unemployed due to the lack of schools in many villages and towns of Idlib. “Many schools have been destroyed by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Turkish forces and Turkey-backed paramilitary groups. My husband was injured in his hands by artillery shells. He has lost his fingers. We have been in financial difficulties because my husband cannot work and I cannot find a job.”

They face pressures

Most teachers in Idlib have to work in different working areas due to the completely devastated education sector. 28-year-old Roa Hammoud is one of the employed English teachers in Idlib. She opened an English course; however, she had to close the course because she was not allowed. She gave English courses at her home but, “I had to stop giving courses because the members of the Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham threatened me.”

Roa Hammoud lost her husband due to the Covid-19. “I have three children and have to earn money for them. I cannot send my children to school since I cannot afford their expenses.”

They want their demands to be heard

38-year-old Rasha Abbas is a teacher at an education complex in the city of Dana in Idlib. Talking about the terrible conditions faced by men and women teachers in Idlib, she said that the unemployment rate among teachers is very high. She told us that the teachers in the city want their demands to be heard.