A celebratory buzz filled Jordan's schools on Sunday morning as thousands of pupils returned to classes after a deal struck on Saturday evening brought a month-long public-school teachers' strike to an end.
Parents carried out the school run once again, school buses were back in action and young friends chatted happily as they made their way on foot.
Meanwhile, preparations were under way in classrooms where lessons had been suspended since teachers first took to the streets on September 5 to protest against low wages.
The deal reached by the government and the Jordanian Teachers' Syndicate, after negotiations which lasted late into Saturday night, granted pay rises of between 35 per cent and 75 per cent, depending on rank.
Five years ago teachers say they were promised a flat 50 per cent increment that had failed to come about.
The agreement brought an end to the country's longest public sector strike and JTS vice president Naser Nawasrah labelled the deal "historic" in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He said the pay rises would come into effect from January 1, 2020, with first, second, third and fourth-rank teachers receiving 35, 40, 50 and 65 per cent increases, respectively.
Mr Nawasrah said that a new rank of 'lead teacher' had also been created through the agreement and this rank would be given a 75 per cent raise.
Science laboratory technician Muntaha Rababah, 40, from Irbid – 90 kilometres north of Amman – described the outcome as a victory for the whole of Jordan.
“We are so happy the strike has ended and we received what we demanded. Today, schools are full of energy, and dignity has been restored for both students and teachers,” she said.
Ms Rababah said pupils and teachers shared gifts of chocolate and flowers.
In south-western city of Karak, physics teacher Abdullah Alqaraleh, 31, said returning to school brought him great joy.
“This will be a breakthrough for a new partnership between the government and professional unions and there is a consensus among teachers to accept these terms.”
Meanwhile in Amman, Nadal Shilbaya, 42, who has been teaching mathematics for 20 years, said he was looking forward to resuming lessons, but pointed out the raises did not meet expectations entirely.
"Normally, if our core salary is increased, so are our additional payments – which are dependent on experience. But this raise is being treated as a separate payment, so our additional payments remain the same, meaning we don't get the full increases we'd hoped for," Mr Shilbaya told The National.
“Also, we should bear in mind becoming a first-rank teacher takes 10 years and you must undertake a course financed by yourself.”
Students at Shukri Shasha'a boys’ school in central Amman said they were pleased to be returning to their studies.
"I'm very happy to be back in school today so that I can study for my Tawjihi exams," said Yazam Jaradat, 17, who was among the 1.5 million pupils affected by the strike.
“But we supported our teachers because it’s their right to be paid better. These are the people who produce our country’s doctors and engineers.”
Principal Wasel Albawayzeh thanked King Abdullah II in his address to his pupils who stood in the schoolyard.
“I’d also like to thank the parents and the community as a whole for supporting the teachers. Every teacher has their own plan to compensate for the lost lessons, don’t worry,” he said.
Following the principal's speech, teacher Aayed Abuzerr also spoke to the students.
"The first lesson of the strike is that everyone who has a right has to ask for that right and you do so without a sword or a gun," he said.
“We went on strike for four weeks and we didn’t say a single bad word. We requested our rights despite the length of time it took. We learnt from the JTS to respect the law which is why the JTS stopped the strike.”
Teachers defied a judicial ruling on Sunday to resume lessons, despite a verdict that said the strike was unlawful because it interfered with pupils' constitutional right to education.
However, when Jordan's Supreme Court upheld the ruling three days later, the JTS temporary halted the strike until Saturday, pending the outcome of negotiations with the government.
After allegations that police assaulted protesters during the Amman sit-in at the start of September – claims denied by the authorities – the JTS went on to also demand an apology from the government.
During World Teachers' Day on Friday, Prime Minister Omar Razzaz apologised to teachers for their treatment at the hands of police during the initial protests via a Facebook post.
Also on Friday, hundreds of residents in the south-western Tafilah governorate rallied in support of the country’s teachers.
Courses%20at%20Istituto%20Marangoni%2C%20Dubai
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EUndergraduate%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EInterior%20Design%3B%20Product%20Design%3B%20Visual%20Design%3B%20Fashion%20Design%20%26amp%3B%20Accessories%3B%20Fashion%20Styling%20%26amp%3B%20Creative%20Direction%3B%20Fashion%20Business%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Fashion%3B%20Foundation%20in%20Design%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EProfessional%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20e-Commerce%20%26amp%3B%20Digital%20Marketing%3B%20Fashion%20Entrepreneurship%3B%20Fashion%20Luxury%20Retail%20and%20Visual%20Merchandising%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EShort%20courses%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3Cbr%3EFashion%20design%3B%20Fashion%20Image%20%26amp%3B%20Styling%3B%20Fashion%20Trend%20Forecasting%3B%20Interior%20Design%3B%20Digital%20Art%20in%20Fashion%3Cbr%3EMore%20information%20is%20at%20%3Ca%20href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.istitutomarangoni.com%2Fen%3Futm_source%3DLocal%26utm_medium%3Dorganic%26utm_campaign%3Dgmb%26utm_content%3Ddubai%22%20target%3D%22_self%22%3Ewww.istitutomarangoni.com%3C%2Fa%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
RESULTS
Manchester United 2
Anthony Martial 30'
Scott McTominay 90 6'
Manchester City 0
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
RESULT
Argentina 0 Croatia 3
Croatia: Rebic (53'), Modric (80'), Rakitic (90' 1)
THE BIO
Mr Al Qassimi is 37 and lives in Dubai
He is a keen drummer and loves gardening
His favourite way to unwind is spending time with his two children and cooking
Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.
As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.
Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.
Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.
Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."
Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
If you go
The flights
Etihad (etihad.com) flies from Abu Dhabi to Luang Prabang via Bangkok, with a return flight from Chiang Rai via Bangkok for about Dh3,000, including taxes. Emirates and Thai Airways cover the same route, also via Bangkok in both directions, from about Dh2,700.
The cruise
The Gypsy by Mekong Kingdoms has two cruising options: a three-night, four-day trip upstream cruise or a two-night, three-day downstream journey, from US$5,940 (Dh21,814), including meals, selected drinks, excursions and transfers.
The hotels
Accommodation is available in Luang Prabang at the Avani, from $290 (Dh1,065) per night, and at Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp and Resort from $1,080 (Dh3,967) per night, including meals, an activity and transfers.
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
Available: Now
Company Profile:
Name: The Protein Bakeshop
Date of start: 2013
Founders: Rashi Chowdhary and Saad Umerani
Based: Dubai
Size, number of employees: 12
Funding/investors: $400,000 (2018)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WE%20NO%20LONGER%20PREFER%20MOUNTAINS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Inas%20Halabi%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENijmeh%20Hamdan%2C%20Kamal%20Kayouf%2C%20Sheikh%20Najib%20Alou%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Cracks in the Wall
Ben White, Pluto Press
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Age: 23
Occupation: Founder of the Studio, formerly an analyst at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi
Education: Bachelor of science in industrial engineering
Favourite hobby: playing the piano
Favourite quote: "There is a key to every door and a dawn to every dark night"
Family: Married and with a daughter