Minister
Halabi: “We agreed to expedite some measures which require specific training
procedures and meet teachers’ demands, as much as possible”.
President of
the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met Education Minister, Dr. Abbas Halabi,
today at the Presidential Palace.
The start of
the academic year, teacher demands and Lebanese University conditions were
deliberated in the meeting.
Statement:
After the
meeting, the Education Minister made the following statement:
“I was honored,
today, to meet His Excellency the President. I briefed the President about the atmosphere
accompanying the start of the academic year, and I informed him of the
executive steps which we have taken, in addition to teachers’ reactions to
these steps.
The President
was very satisfied with the beginning of the academic year. In addition, we
addressed the demands of teachers, contractors, private and public schools. We
also agreed to speed up some steps which require specific training procedures,
in order to provide necessary supplies for the official sector. We stressed the
necessity of meet the demands of teachers and contractors, namely transportation
allowance and social grants which were the subject of discussion.
We also
discussed the adoption of a 500 billion pound-bill related to the public and
private sector, at a rate of 350 billion pounds to the private sector and 150
billion pounds to the official sector, in a way which secures and provides the
requirements of this year, hence reaching the end of a safe and successful
academic year with all accompanying steps.
Moreover, we
tackled the issue of the Lebanese University, and we agreed on the need to
strengthen this university and its role in the next stage. God willing,
appointing the President of the Lebanese University will be on the cabinet’s
agenda, either today or next week”.
General
President of Savior Congregation:
The President
received the General President of the Basilian Savior Congregation,
Archimandrite Antoine Dib, Elected Archbishop of the Melkite Greek Catholic
Diocese of Canada, Father Milad Jawich, and Father Gilbert Wardi.
President Aoun
was invited, by Archimandrite Dib, to attend the episcopal ordination of the
new metropolitan, which will take place on Saturday October 30th in
the Monastery of the Savior in Joun, Al-Shouf.
The occasion
will also be celebrated by the Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch and
all the East, Youssef Al-Absi I.