DUBAI, UAE - The Iraqi Parliament held a special session Thursday to discuss the growing demands of teachers and academia staff after recent protests and strikes across several provinces.

The session, led by Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani, brought together lawmakers, members of the Education Committee, and Uday al-Issawi, the head of the Iraqi Teachers’ Syndicate. 

The meeting aimed to respond to the concerns raised by educators over their working and living conditions.

Issawi outlined the main concerns of teachers and school staff. He called for a new salary structure, permanent contracts for temporary teachers and administrative staff, legal protection for educators, better school facilities, and access to modern teaching tools.

“The Teachers’ Syndicate supports the right to peaceful protest,” Issawi said. “We ask for responsible and serious dialogue with the authorities to meet the expectations of the education community.”

The Parliament’s Education Committee presented a report on the recent demonstrations and offered several recommendations. It called for closer cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Finance to create a practical plan that addresses both urgent demands and long-term improvements.

Lawmakers agreed to form a joint committee with the Teachers’ Syndicate to follow up on the demands. They also decided to send the session’s recommendations to the appropriate government agencies and to hold a follow-up session with representatives from the Education and Finance ministries.

The strike began Sunday, following the end of the Eid al-Fitr holiday, with teachers and academia staff in all Iraqi provinces going on a strike.

Among the educators’ demands are regular payment of transportation fees for educational supervisors, and the creation of a specific budget line in the general directorates’ financial plans to guarantee consistent disbursement of those funds. They are also requesting 150,000 Iraqi dinars in petty cash per academic term to support school administrative operations.

Teachers are also urging the government to permanently employ contract teachers hired in 2020, pay outstanding 2024 contract wages, and grant double service credit for educators working in remote or underserved areas.

Additional demands include access to low-interest loans, no higher than 2 percent from state banks, and the recognition of advanced degrees earned by staff who did not receive prior study approval from their directorates.

Demonstrations have erupted in multiple provinces, and protestors have faced a heavy-handed response from security forces. 

On Tuesday, riot police reportedly used force against educators protesting in front of the Dhi Qar Directorate of Education.

According to a source from the province’s health directorate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity with The New Region, at least 42 people were injured in the confrontation, including 27 protesters and 15 security personnel.