President of the Republic, General Michel Aoun, met with Education Minister, Dr. Abbas Halabi, on Tuesday at the Presidential Palace.

The start of the academic year, teacher demands, and the Lebanese University conditions were deliberated in the meeting.

After the meeting, the Education Minister made the following statement:

“I was honored, today, to meet with 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 Lebanese 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”.