CAIRO: Hundreds of teachers demonstrated outside the headquarters of the Egyptian Cabinet on Wednesday, protesting their deteriorating financial situation and standards of living. The teachers decided to go on strike at the beginning of the new school year, dubbing the campaign “The school year without teachers.” Teachers from 11 governates and members of the Teacher's Syndicate participated. The demonstrators are calling for eight demands: • The removal of Egyptian Minister of Education Ahmed Gamal el-Din • The appointment of recent graduates of the College of Education • Putting an end to the crisis of promotion for teachers • Disbursing the 200 percent teachers' bonus • Tax exemptions for teachers • Replacing the teacher's temporary contracts with permanent ones • Increasing exam pay • A 3,000 EGP (U.S $508) monthly minimum wage for teachers. Laborers also formed a committee to facilitate traffic movement after an altercation between a taxi driver and demonstrators.
