The Coordination nationale des enseignants du primaire, a union representing primary school teachers in Algeria, organized a nationwide strike on Wednesday, with teachers paralyzing several schools across the country. The strike is part of an ongoing protest that began in October, with teachers demanding changes to their working conditions, benefits, and the education system. The union is pushing for the government to address its concerns, which include revising the curriculum, adjusting school calendars, and modifying teacher status.
The strike was marked by a sit-in outside the education ministry's annex in Algiers, where dozens of teachers gathered to voice their demands. Protesters carried banners with slogans such as "The dignity of the teacher is above all considerations." The teachers expressed their determination to continue their protest until their demands are met. According to the union, the strike is aimed at pressuring the government to address the teachers' concerns, which have been ignored for months.
The teachers' union is seeking several key changes, including a revision of pedagogical programs, changes to school calendars and start dates for schools in the southern regions of the country. They also want to modify the special status of teachers, reclassify primary, middle, and secondary school teachers to the same base grade, and reduce their workload. Additionally, the union is demanding the immediate implementation of a 2014 presidential decree, which would provide retroactive benefits to teachers.
The union is also calling for the recruitment of supervisors to oversee students in schoolyards and cafeterias, allowing teachers to focus on their pedagogical work. Furthermore, the teachers are seeking the creation of new teacher grades for scientific, literary, and physical education subjects. The union's demands are aimed at improving working conditions, benefits, and the overall quality of education in Algeria.
The strike and sit-in are the latest actions taken by the teachers' union, which began its protest movement in October. The union's leaders have warned that they will not back down until their demands are met. The government has not yet responded to the union's demands, and it is unclear when a resolution to the conflict can be expected. The strike has disrupted the education of thousands of students across Algeria.
The teachers' union has been vocal about its demands, and its leaders have expressed frustration with the government's lack of response. According to Samira Saïdj, a representative of the union, the teachers are determined to continue their protest until their demands are met. The union is seeking a meeting with the government to discuss its demands and find a solution to the conflict.
The conflict between the teachers' union and the government has been ongoing for several months, with no resolution in sight. The strike and sit-in are a testament to the union's determination to press for changes to the education system and improve working conditions for teachers. The outcome of the conflict remains uncertain, but one thing is clear: the teachers are committed to fighting for their rights and the future of education in Algeria.
Key points
- Algerian primary school teachers stage nationwide strike to press for changes to working conditions and benefits.
- The teachers' union is seeking revisions to the curriculum, adjustments to school calendars, and modifications to teacher status.
- The strike is part of an ongoing protest that began in October, with no resolution in sight.
