By: Alieu Ceesay
Teachers’ sit-down protests in Grant-Aided Schools, particularly in the Greater Banjul area, have disrupted classes. Affected students are urging the Gambian Government, specifically the Ministries of Education and Finance, to address the issue promptly to prevent a potential crisis.
Teachers in Grant-Aided schools are currently on strike due to the Government’s failure to pay November salaries for Board Schools and the School Improvement Grant (SIG) for Mission Schools.
TAT visited several schools where students missed classes, causing them to lose valuable learning time.
Amie Gitteh, a grade 12 student at Shaikh Mass Kah Senior Secondary School, is preparing for the annual West Africa Secondary School Examination conducted annually in the Gambia, Nigeria, Ghana, and other West African countries.
Gitteh urged the authorities to act more effectively: “We are preparing for exams and should not miss any classes. The Government should ensure that our teachers are paid.” This comment came from a grade 12 Shaikh MassKah Senior Secondary School student who spoke to TAT.
Gitteh missed four lessons due to the strike, which is yet to end.
The umbrella organization representing Gambian teachers has released a statement emphasizing its efforts to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation with the central Government. The Union stated that the Government had not fulfilled its commitments, which has resulted in considerable distress and financial hardship for its members and the affected schools.
Salimatou Camara paid her fare from Kanifing to Banjul, where she usually attends lessons at the Gambia Senior Secondary School at the capital’s entrance. However, She returned home without attending any lessons because the Government did not pay her teachers.
“We paid the fare to school today just to notice that there was no lesson. Our fear went for nothing. We wasted our money. Let the Government and teachers settle this matter because if it continues like this, it will affect our education.”
The Union said in a statement that if the Government failed to meet these obligations by paying teachers their November salary before the closure of work on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024, the Union would have no choice but to extend its action to all (other) categories and levels of schools across the country in solidarity with the affected group.
The Gambia Teachers Union States that they are aware of the frustrations of the membership, especially those affected, and the potential disruption of quality education service delivery that the non-payment of SIG could cause schools.
Alieu Sanneh, a Kairaba Upper and Senior Secondary School student, calls on the Government to adequately provide for teachers’ development. “I will call on the government to pay our teachers enough salary to improve the education sector of the Gambia.”
On December 1st, 2024, the Ministry of Finance and Economics Affairs of the Gambia issued a statement stating, “We wish to assure the Union (GTU) and General public that all payments were processed on Friday, November 29th, 2024, in line with the planned payment.”
However, teachers refuted this statement as the sit-down strike continued. The Union urges all members to stand in solidarity during this industrial action and remain vigilant in upholding their rights and demands for fair treatment.
During our visits, schools such as Gambia Senior Secondary School, Shaikh MassKha Senior Secondary, Daddy Jobe, and Kairaba Upper and Senior Secondary were closed without any lessons.
