Hundreds of men with classroom teaching degrees to hold strike for fair employment

AMMAN — Demanding employment opportunities, 800 men who hold a classroom teaching bachelor’s degree are planning to hold a strike this week.

The campaign was primarily launched in response to a 2018 decision by the Higher Education Council (HEC), which restricted employment for classroom teacher positions to women. 

The Jordan Times spoke with some of the campaign’s members, who described the decision as “unjust” for “killing their chances of ever finding a decent job”.   

The majority of those participating in the strike are over 30 years old, unemployed and have families to support, said Sameer Al Harahshah, the coordinator of the campaign. 

The 37-year-old graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s degree in classroom teaching, and has since been unable to find a stable job in his field. 

Harahshah has mostly worked as a day labourer in different fields without health insurance or a social security plan. 

“My parents sacrificed a lot to put me through school. It cost JD15,000 to get my bachelor’s degree, and it was all for nothing. I can’t get that money back, and I can’t use my degree to get a job,” Harahshah told The Jordan Times. 

There are currently around 1,200 men who possess bachelor’s degrees in classroom teaching in Jordan. Men are no longer allowed to enrol in this major at public universities, although some private universities still accept male applicants, according to Harahshah. 

The campaign organiser noted that the HEC’s decision was “very sudden”, demanding more coordination between the Ministry of Higher Education, the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) and the Ministry of Education. 

“Why did the Ministry of Higher Education allow me to study this major and earn a degree if I wasn’t allowed to work using it?” Harahshah said. 

Fadi, who preferred to appear by his first name only, also carries a classroom teaching degree, and is planning on participating in the upcoming strike. 

The 32-year-old graduated in 2015. He has worked at on-the-road coffee kiosks for a salary of no more than JD150 per month, and also works as a temporary substitute teacher at the Ministry of Education. 

“What I make is barely enough to cover my basic needs, let alone allow me to get married and start a family or save up for anything,” he told The Jordan Times. 

The campaign’s members are demanding that the government provide alternatives for decent employment opportunities. Their suggestions include creating positions at the Ministry of Culture’s youth centres or being employed as secretaries, librarians, clerks or any other desk jobs at various government institutions. 

Despite repeated attempts by The Jordan Times to contact the CSB and the concerned ministries, officials were unavailable to comment.