A New Project to Support Freedom of Expression and Psychological Immunity for Arab Educational Staff

SadaNews - The Committee for Following Up on Issues of Arab Education announced today, Thursday, the launch of a new national project aimed at promoting freedom of expression and supporting the psychological immunity of educational staff within the Arab education system, in light of the ongoing war, the rise of racist rhetoric, and the wave of violence within Arab society.

The committee stated that the project comes in response to the narrowing spaces for expression and the increasing climates of "fear and persecution" targeting teachers and education workers. It highlighted its legal follow-up on what is known as the "Law for the Dismissal of Educational Staff" before the Supreme Court, in collaboration with Adalah, the legal center for Arab minority rights, and other representative bodies.

The project includes the preparation of a legal guide by lawyer Awni Banna and a psychosocial guide prepared by specialist Inas Awda Haj, in addition to the establishment of a digital knowledge library, producing awareness materials through social media networks, and organizing virtual meetings and field workshops for educational staff throughout the academic year.

The committee added that the project will be implemented in coordination with partners in the educational field, including the national committee for Arab student parents and the forum of department heads for education in local Arab authorities, along with professional and rights-based institutions.

The committee called on educational staff to engage in the project and contribute to fostering a "safe educational environment based on dialogue, respect for diversity, and freedom of opinion", noting that the project is implemented with support from European institutions including the European Union and the European Foundation for Democracy.