Teachers’ strike in the cities of Bokoro and Kutu: the situation of salary arrears
Since Monday September 18, teachers in the cities of Bokoro and Kutu, located in the territory of the same name in the province of Mai-Ndombe, have been on strike. Their main demand is the payment of four months of salary arrears, from June to September.
The president of the inter-union of teachers in this area underlines the importance of resolving this situation. It conditions the lifting of the strike on full payment of salary arrears. Indeed, teachers find themselves faced with significant financial difficulties, affecting their daily lives and their motivation to practice their profession.
Faced with this strike, the provincial deputy of Kutu, Lebon Nkoso Kevani, expresses his concern about the impact on children’s education. He calls on the Congolese government to take its responsibilities and find rapid solutions so that students can resume classes under normal conditions.
According to Junior Mbukela, president of the teachers’ union synergy in the Kutu territory, only salaries for the months of June and July were paid by Caritas. However, payments for August and September have not yet been made for any teachers in the province.
This problem of salary arrears is not exclusive to the cities of Bokoro and Kutu. Teachers in Oshwe territory are also facing similar difficulties, with four months of unpaid salaries, according to local sources.
This teachers’ strike highlights persistent salary payment problems in the education sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is essential to find sustainable solutions to ensure regular and fair remuneration of teachers, thus guaranteeing the quality of education provided to children.
Pending a resolution of this conflict, it is necessary to put in place effective financial mechanisms to prevent such situations in the future. The education of younger generations cannot be compromised by salary payment issues, so finding ways to ensure the financial stability of teachers is essential to ensure quality education.