Title: Teachers in Chad: towards an end to the crisis after a decision to suspend a prolonged strike
Introduction :
In Chad, the situation of primary and secondary teachers is experiencing a glimmer of hope. After months of strike and demands, their representatives decided to extend the suspension of the movement for another month. This decision follows financial proposals from the Succès Masra government. Teachers thus grant the authorities time to respond to their demands. Does this announcement mark the beginning of a definitive resolution of the crisis?
An extension of the strike to make room for negotiations:
During a general assembly on February 7, 2024 in Ndjamena, teacher representatives decided to extend for one month the suspension of the strike initiated on January 5, 2024. This decision follows meetings with Succès Masra, the new Prime transitional minister, who had promised to respond to the demands of teachers. The financial proposals presented during these meetings were accepted at the general assembly.
The government’s financial commitments:
As part of the government’s proposals, progress has been made to meet the demands of teachers. Among these advances, the government has agreed to pay as of this week a chalk bonus equivalent to 370,000 euros to those who have not yet received it, as well as documentation bonuses and the thirteenth month. Additionally, the €9 million in arrears owed to around 3,000 new teachers will be paid in three installments starting at the end of the month.
Material compensation for teachers:
The Chadian state must also compensate for the reductions and other salary deductions suffered by the 33,000 public teachers during the economic crisis of the late 2010s. Given the scale of this sum, the government has offered to compensate them in nature. Thus, each teacher will have the choice between a building plot or a motorcycle.
A step towards resolving the crisis:
This decision to extend the suspension of the strike and to grant the government time to honor its financial commitments marks an important step in resolving the teachers’ crisis in Chad. However, despite these advances, a certain mistrust remains among teachers. The president of the crisis committee of the Chad Teachers’ Union (SET), Faustin Djimoudouel, expressed this distrust by announcing an assessment of the situation on March 5.
Conclusion :
The extension of the suspension of the teachers’ strike movement in Chad gives new hope for an end to the crisis. The financial proposals from the Succès Masra government were accepted by teachers during a general assembly. Although significant progress has been made, a certain caution persists among teachers. It remains to be seen whether the government will keep its commitments and whether this will allow a lasting resolution of the educational crisis in the country.