The Mauritanian government and student leaders have reached an agreement to reduce university transportation costs in Nouakchott, ending a strike that had been ongoing for several days. The agreement, which was reached on October 30, provides for a monthly subscription of 3,500 ouguiyas for students to use rapid transit buses for 50 trips, equivalent to 70 ouguiyas per trip.
The agreement also provides that traditional lines not covered by the rapid transit network will maintain their current fare of 50 ouguiyas per trip, provided that payment is made through the "E-Ticket" electronic ticketing application. In addition, two new options have been introduced for traditional transportation: a package of 10 tickets valid for 15 days and a package of 20 tickets valid for a month.
The agreement was reached after a week of negotiations between the government and the Student Front for the Defense of Rights and Acquisitions in Mauritania, which had been on strike since October 26. The strike had been sparked by government decisions related to university transportation, including the cancellation of some old bus stops and an increase in fares on some lines from 50 to 300 ouguiyas.
The Student Front, which represents four student unions, had been demanding a reduction in transportation costs and an improvement in the quality of services. The agreement provides for the re-establishment of student representation on administrative and educational councils and the formation of a joint committee to prepare a unified legal framework for student activities in universities.
Other demands, including criteria for scholarships and housing, the situation of expelled students, and an increase in master's degree seats, have been referred to joint committees. The Student Front has suspended its protests to allow the joint committees to work on the outstanding issues.
The agreement has been welcomed by students, who had been facing significant difficulties in getting to and from university due to the high cost of transportation. The government has also been praised for its efforts to address the concerns of students and improve the quality of education in Mauritania.
The Mauritanian government has been working to improve the education sector, which has faced significant challenges in recent years. The agreement with student leaders is seen as a positive step towards resolving the issues facing students and improving the overall quality of education in the country.
Key points
- The agreement provides for a monthly subscription of 3,500 ouguiyas for students to use rapid transit buses for 50 trips.
- Traditional lines not covered by the rapid transit network will maintain their current fare of 50 ouguiyas per trip.
- The agreement provides for the re-establishment of student representation on administrative and educational councils.
