Article: Teachers on strike for structural reforms in education
Education is at the heart of the concerns of Cameroonian teachers, who are currently on strike to protest against the insufficient measures taken by the government. Since the start of the school year, many secondary school teachers have decided not to teach classes, expressing their dissatisfaction with the current situation.
This strike takes place in a context of recurring demands from teachers, who believe that their requests are not taken into account. Despite some progress, such as updating salaries and paying back salary supplements, many demands remain unresolved.
Teachers are demanding in particular the effective application of the “Special Teacher Status”, signed in 2000 but never implemented. They also demand index rescheduling, the contractualisation of all technical education teachers, as well as the automation of advancements.
Faced with these demands, public authorities seem powerless and teachers express their frustration at the lack of political will to find lasting solutions. According to some trade unionists, this situation is explained by the fact that for years, the government has never provided adequate responses to teachers’ requests, which has led to a situation of permanent crisis in the education sector.
In the hope of finding a solution to these recurring problems, teachers are placing high hopes in the organization of a “National Education Forum” (FNE), which would bring together all stakeholders in the sector to discuss the problems. and propose new directions. This forum would allow an in-depth analysis of the issues and would pave the way for necessary structural reforms.
In conclusion, the teachers’ strike in Cameroon highlights recurring problems in the education sector and highlights the urgent need for structural reforms. Teachers are demanding concrete measures to improve their working conditions and guarantee quality education for students. The government must now take more meaningful actions to respond to these legitimate demands and ensure a better future for education in Cameroon.