A wave of protests swept through several educational institutions in Bouira, Algeria, as teachers from all three levels of education went on a two-hour strike. The strike was called by the autonomous union, Conseil National Autonome des Professeurs de l'Enseignement Secondaire et Technique et des Écoles (CNAPESTE). The union has been at odds with the local education authority, the Direction de l'Education (DE), over various issues affecting teachers and students.
The CNAPESTE has expressed dissatisfaction with a meeting held in late December between the union's members and the Director of Education. According to the union, no concrete decisions were made to address the conflicts in several establishments. The CNAPESTE has accused the DE of taking arbitrary measures against teachers at certain schools, including the lycées d'Aghbalou and de Raouraoua. The union claims that the DE has unfairly denied these teachers their end-of-year performance bonuses.
The CNAPESTE has called on the Wali (Governor) of Bouira to intervene urgently to resolve the conflicts and ensure a fair management of the issues affecting teachers and administrations in several establishments. The union has also urged teachers across the wilaya (province) to protest and observe work stoppages. The CNAPESTE has stated that it will hold an extraordinary meeting of its council to study proposals from teachers and find a way forward.
The strike was observed in several lycées across the wilaya, including those in Bouira, M'Chedallah, Aïn-Bessem, Bechloul, and Sour El-Ghozlane. Teachers have been protesting what they see as a lack of response from the DE to their concerns and the union's demands. The CNAPESTE has accused the DE of adopting a policy of double standards and ignoring the union's numerous requests and reports from investigation commissions.
The conflict between the CNAPESTE and the DE has been ongoing, with the union accusing the education authority of not taking the problems seriously. The CNAPESTE has stated that it will continue to push for a resolution to the issues affecting teachers and students in the wilaya. The union has expressed concern that the ongoing conflicts are affecting the education and well-being of students.
The Wali of Bouira has been urged to take immediate action to address the situation and prevent further escalation. The CNAPESTE has emphasized the need for a fair and just solution to the conflicts, which have been ongoing for some time. The union has stated that it will continue to work towards finding a resolution that benefits both teachers and students.
The situation in Bouira highlights the ongoing challenges facing the education sector in Algeria, where teachers and unions are pushing for better working conditions, improved salaries, and greater autonomy. The CNAPESTE's actions are part of a broader movement by teachers and unions across the country to address issues affecting the education system.
Key points
- The CNAPESTE has accused the DE of taking arbitrary measures against teachers at certain schools.
- The union has called on the Wali of Bouira to intervene urgently to resolve the conflicts.
- The strike was observed in several lycées across the wilaya, including those in Bouira, M'Chedallah, and Sour El-Ghozlane.
