Mauritanian teachers strike, demand better salaries

The strike was staged in response to the government’s delay in fulfilling the teachers’ demands, said a member of the Mauritanian Independent Syndicate of Secondary Education Teachers, Ahmed Mahmoud Beidah

CAPE TOWN, March 25 (ANA) – Teachers in the West African country of Mauritania have embarked on a three-day strike on Monday demanding a salary increase as well as better living conditions.

According to a report by Turkish-based news outlet, Anadolu Agency, the strike was staged in response to the government’s delay in fulfilling the teachers’ demands, said a member of the Mauritanian Independent Syndicate of Secondary Education Teachers, Ahmed Mahmoud Beidah.

Furthermore, the country’s education ministry appealed to the teachers to end their strike and engage in talks to resolve the dispute, according to Anadolu Agency.

People took to social media to express their concern around the teacher’s strike, with one person saying, “As usual, the government does not meet the teachers demands . The priority is to increase their salaries. Even their salaries do not give them a decent life in this bad economic situation.”

Another Facebook user said that they don’t agree with the strike, “since teachers don’t do that much work”.

There are nearly 11,500 teachers in Mauritania, according to the latest data.

In February, hundreds of teachers demanded the removal of the education minister for remarks they claimed were insulting.

According to local media reports, Ould Eyih said that an international group evaluated the education process in Mauritania and found only 4% of teachers had expertise, writes Anadolu Agency.

The education ministry recently began a program to upgrade teachers’ efficiency and capacity.

The country has seen a rise in demonstrations particularly by healthcare workers demanding pay raises and better working conditions.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Devereaux Morkel