Africa
Zimbabwe: Capacity building training on child labour and SDGs for teacher unions
In December, three female representatives from the Zimbabwe Teachers' Association, the Zambia National Union of Teachers, and the Progressive Teachers' Union of Zimbabwe attended a one-week training workshop at the International Labour Organisation’s Training Centre in Turin, Italy. The training focused on the connections between the sustainable developments goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Education Agenda, youth employment, skills, and the eradication of child labour.
Rwanda: AWEN review meeting 2016
A strategic plan covering 2017-2019 for the African Women in Education Network (AWEN) was drafted at its annual review and planning meeting from 4-9 December in Kigali. Attendees also evaluated 2016’s activities and developed participants’ capacity to use a results-based management approach to planning.
The meeting was attended by members of the AWEN Advisory Committee, representatives of partner organisations (the Canadian Teachers’ Federation, Lärarförbundet [Sweden], and Utdanningsforbundet [UEN/Norway]), as well as staff from the EI secretariat and the EI Africa regional office (EIRAF).
Niger: Teachers demand that government fulfils its promises
Displaying full teacher union unity, the five EI affiliates in Niger, the Syndicat national des enseignants du Niger, the Syndicat national des enseignants de base, the Syndicat national des travailleurs de l’enseignement de base, the Syndicat national des travailleurs de l’éducation du Niger, and the Syndicat national des agents de la formation et de l'éducation du Niger, took part in a 72-hour strike that began on 7 December. Their call for a national strike was supported by all trade union confederations in the country.
The unions demanded the payment of salary arrears, with some teachers remaining unpaid since August 2016. They also sought the integration of contract teachers into the public sector: 80 per cent of national primary and secondary education teachers work on a contract basis. The unions also rejected the government’s economic reasons for the latter’s failure to revise the salary scale of teachers and address the shortage of public sector primary school teachers. The unions argue that the impact of Niger’s economic crisis should be absorbed across society, not just the education sector.
Chad: Support for public sector teachers’ demands
The EIRAF expressed its support for Chad’s public service teachers and employees involved in a strike to protest against delays in the payment of their salaries and a reduction in their salaries and allowances. A trade union platform, consisting of the Syndicat des enseignants du Tchad(SET) and other trade unions and confederations of the civil service, demanded the suspension of 16 emergency measures, including the reduction of allowances and allowances for teachers and other state employees. These measures had been unilaterally adopted by the government in response to Chad’s financial and economic crisis.
EI also strongly condemned intimidation by the police, particularly the arrest of teachers during social negotiations in December. This police action was in blatant violation of fundamental human and trade union rights. EI urged the government to immediately begin a constructive dialogue with the SET and other social partners.
Senegal: 10th SYPROS ordinary congress
“The role and place of teachers and their organisations in the achievement of the SDG4” was the focus of the Syndicat des Professeurs du Sénégal(SYPROS) at its 10th ordinary congress from 28-29 December. The EIRAF Chief Regional Coordinator, Assibi Napoe, linked this theme to EI’s “Unite for Quality Education” campaign and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016-2025. She also urged SYPROS members to strengthen their organisation by recruiting women and young teachers and to urge the government to help fulfil SDG4 through the provision of quality trained teachers and adequate resources in education. She called on the government to establish a mechanism for permanent, effective and efficient social dialogue for the achievement of SDG4. The SYPROS General Secretary and EI Executive Board’s member, Marième Sakho Dansokho, was reelected as SYPROS Executive Board’s President.
