Teachers in Cameroon are once again on strike, expressing their dissatisfaction with the measures taken by the government to respond to their demands. Since the start of the school year, protest movements have spread across the country, disrupting classes in many schools. Teachers are demanding in particular better consideration of their salary advancements, payment of back pay, effective application of the Special Teacher Status, as well as other structural measures aimed at improving their working conditions.
Despite some progress, such as updating salaries and paying salary supplements, teachers believe that these measures remain insufficient to meet their expectations. They are demanding in particular a review of the payment schedule for advancement reminders, which would extend until 2025 according to the information circulating. In addition, they ask for their various demands to be taken into account, such as index rescheduling, contractualization of technical education teachers and the creation of a fund for the protection of health at work.
This strike once again reveals the structural problems of the education sector in Cameroon. Teachers believe that public authorities lack the political will to provide lasting solutions to their demands. For many years, the country has been facing recurring crises in the field of education, without concrete measures being taken to remedy them.
Faced with this situation, many teachers are placing their hopes in the organization of a “National Education Forum”. This initiative would bring together all stakeholders in the education sector to analyze the problems in depth and propose new directions. The unions hope that this forum will make it possible to implement coherent and lasting reforms to improve the Cameroonian education system.
In conclusion, the teachers’ strike in Cameroon highlights the continuing difficulties of the education sector and the need for in-depth reform. Teachers continue to fight for better working conditions and recognition of their profession. It is therefore essential that the government takes their demands into account and initiates significant reforms to ensure a better future for education in Cameroon.