- Title: TOGO: Teachers strike enters second week in Togo
- Date: 11th November 2013
- Summary: LOME, TOGO (RECENT) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF CLOSED SCHOOL VARIOUS OF INTERIOR SCHOOL YARD OF CLOSED SCHOOL VARIOUS OF EMPTY CLASSROOMS (SOUNDBITE) (French) FLEURIE AKAKPO, STUDENT SAYING: "Frankly, this strike is only going to make things worse, because it also makes us lazy. For example, the curriculum in the last year of high school is quite heavy and now our
- Embargoed: 26th November 2013 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Togo
- Country: Togo
- Topics: Education
- Reuters ID: LVA6W80S8ND41GF875ZFKM377I8E
- Story Text: Schools across Togo's capital Lome remain closed, a week after the government ordered a shutdown of all public and private schools, following an ongoing teachers' strike over pay, pension and living conditions.
In Lome, most classes were deserted, as the impact of the strike was felta across the capital, with many students worried that they will not be able to complete the academic year.
"Frankly, this strike is only going to make things worse, because it also makes us lazy. For example, the curriculum in the last year of high school is quite heavy and now our return to school has been pushed back for three weeks because of the strike. It's a waste of time, and afterwards the teachers will be forced to rush through the school year, with short classes, without making sure students catch up properly, which will leave many behind when exams come," said Fleurie Akakpo, a student.
This is the second time teachers in Togo have gone on strike this year.
In April, students protesting in solidarity with their teachers who downed tools for better pay, led to the death of two students, following a police intervention to stop the protests.
Togo's education system has struggled with poor quality, overcrowded classes, shortage of teachers, high repetition and dropout rates for years.
"We sent our children to school and now they have been forced to come back home. We are not happy. The authorities have to solve this problem with the teachers, so that children can go back to school," said a Lome resident, Gerard Komlan.
Amongst their grievances, teachers demand a signed agreement to include monthly premiums in isolated regions, housing, late hours, risks linked to the job and overcrowded classes.
"Our demands are in connection with our working and living conditions as teachers. We have benefits and allowances that are linked to our work as teachers, but they have been ignored, they are always pushed aside. Promises were made last year that our benefits and allowances would be part of the 2014 budget. But despite our calls for the government to honour those promises since March this year, nothing was done," said Ferdinand Abalo Aketa, head of Togo's teachers association.
Although the government has yet to say when schools will be reopened, talks with teachers' trade unions have been initiated.
"What's important for the government is to avoid children going back to the streets, and that is why we wanted to prevent that by saying, let's close all schools, while we try to sort out this problem. Secondly, I don't want to say that we have been firm, but rather that we are trying to sort this out in an open and peaceful atmosphere. The government is open for dialogue," said Togo's minister for primary and secondary education, Florent Manganawe, adding that although the government is open to dialogue, the budget in place will not be forfeited to pay for teachers pay instead of school material like desks and chairs.
Although free education was introduced in the West African country in 2008, a lack of funding has forced parents in many parts of the country to pay teachers from their own pockets. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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