Teachers Strike, Demand Unpaid Salaries Ground Schools In Cameroon

Teachers in Cameroon are refusing to work, citing unpaid salaries, some dating back years.

Government-led negotiations Tuesday failed to reach an agreement, putting the education of hundreds of thousands of children on hold.

Students at Government Bilingual High School Deido in the city of Douala in a song, asked the government to pay their teachers so children have access to education.

The children say their dreams of becoming government ministers, doctors, journalists and entrepreneurs will be shattered if the government fails to listen to teachers.

Ten Cameroon teachers’ associations and unions last week announced a strike against what they call the disrespect of teachers by the government.

The teachers say the monthly salaries of primary school teachers should be increased from about $150 to at least $400.

They are also asking that the salaries of secondary school teachers be increased from about $400 to at least $800.

President of the Teachers’ Association of Cameroon, Valentine Tameh, says his colleagues are particularly angry because the government has recruited more teachers than it can pay and now owes several years of unpaid salaries.

The sides negotiated Tuesday, and the government promised to look into the teachers’ grievances and pay the outstanding salaries of at least 17,000 teachers, though it did not say when.

A statement from secretary general of the prime minister’s office, Fouda Seraphin Magloire, said the teachers agreed to suspend the strike.

Meanwhile, Geography instructor Appolinnaire Ze, a spokesman for the disgruntled teachers, says the teachers agreed to no such thing.

Ze says all teachers should go to school, but should not teach. He says school children should be calm and understand that teachers are going through a very difficult time.

Ze says teachers should be humble but courageous to ask intimidating police and government officials if the police and government officials can also work for so many years without being paid.

The government denies that its officials and the police are trying to intimidate the teachers.