Thousands Of Teachers On Strike In Cameroon Over Poor Living Conditions, Unpaid Salaries

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Thousands Of Teachers On Strike In Cameroon Over Poor Living Conditions

By Uganda Online Correspondent

Cameroonian public school teachers have been on strike for three weeks. Despite the government’s promises, not all teachers are convinced.

Citing deteriorating conditions and unpaid salaries, some dating back years. Cameroonian public school teachers have been on strike for three weeks.

putting the education of thousands of children on hold.

OTS, OTS !”, videos circulating on social media show pupils from the Douala-based Banaberi high school protesting.

As they chant OTS an acronym standing for “On a trop supporté” meaning we have endured too much, they joined the teachers’ strike in Cameroon. Three weeks into the mobilization, the school system is heavily impacted

“We’ll have to sit the high school diploma exam in just a few months but we don’t know how we will do it. Teachers are absent and during the essay session, which started last week, it was very difficult. Substitute teachers supervised the exams because our teachers weren’t there.” One of the affected students Marie Luise Mbadje told the press.

Behind the banner OTS, teachers who refuse to work citing deteriorating conditions and unpaid salaries, some dating back years. The collective OTS has brought together union members and non-union members. The death of a teacher a few days ago has grieved an entire nation and further convinced teachers like Bonaventure Kougang of the importance of the strike:

“Our colleague Hamidou passed away after ten long years of good and faithful service at the Beka high school yet, with no civil servant status. It is outrageous and it hurts. We can say that the Cameroonian state kills its teachers.”

The collective now demands 181 billion CFA francs for teachers to return to classes. According to them, the amount is equivalent to the money the state owes teachers. After concertations the government decided to address the teachers’ grievances, vowing to pay gradually.

“The government proposes to pay in the following months 25 billion CFA Francs, Emmanuel Sadi the Communicationminister announced. The balance, approximately 31 billion nine hundred million CFA franc will be paid in 2023.”

If the move aims at convincing teachers to end the strike, for now, not all strikers are ready to back to classes.

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