The Angolan opposition party UNITA has expressed deep concern over the nationwide strike by teachers, which began on September 21, 2026. In a statement, UNITA urged the government to engage in urgent, frank, and open dialogue with the National Teachers' Union (SINPROF) to resolve the situation. The party emphasized that the strike, which affects the normal functioning of schools, can cause significant losses to students.
According to UNITA, the teachers' demands are structural in nature and have been ongoing for several years without effective resolution. Key issues include the situation of teachers excluded from internal and access competitions, the 30% subsidy for teachers in monodocência regime, differences in salary framework, and problems related to textbooks and working conditions.
UNITA recognizes that the strike affects the normal functioning of schools and can cause prejudice to students, which is why it advocates for the resumption of dialogue and the effective fulfillment of assumed commitments. The party notes that the SINPROF's demands are not conjunctural but structural, with 53,575 teachers having been unjustly excluded from the internal and access competitions.
The Angolan government has announced that it has fulfilled around 80% of its commitments assumed in January with SINPROF. According to official data, 50,549 candidates out of 53,755 agents of education predicted for career updating have already been validated. The Ministry of Finance has ensured the financial allocation for this process, with a payment schedule divided into two phases.
The first phase of the strike, which started on September 21, will run until October 15, with three other phases of strike planned throughout the academic year if the dispute is not resolved. UNITA emphasizes that dialogue is fundamental to guaranteeing the production and productivity of the education system, as well as the defense and dignification of the teaching profession.
For the candidates who were left out due to eligibility issues, the government has committed to reviewing the processes of 3,206 applicants and announced a new exceptional internal competition, scheduled for the second quarter of 2027, to ensure the integration of all eligible professionals.
UNITA demands that the results of the negotiations be reflected in a written commitment and effectively implemented. The party believes that without motivated teachers, there is no effective learning, and therefore, dialogue is essential to ensure the quality of education.
Key points
- UNITA urges urgent dialogue between government and SINPROF to end the nationwide teachers' strike.
- The strike affects the normal functioning of schools and can cause significant losses to students.
- The teachers' demands are structural in nature and have been ongoing for several years without effective resolution.
