12 October 2007
Bujumbura — The strike began by teachers of secondary schools on Monday October 8 is now causing some boarding schools to close. Secondary schools are faced with the problem of feeding students who have increased in number throughout the country.
Almost all boarding secondary schools in Ngozi have sent their students back home. Parents of these students must face the consequences of this strike by paying for their children to return home. Widespread economic problems will make this difficult for many families.
The ministry of education indicates that these pupils should stay at school since the strike will not last long. The strike is, however, bogging down the schools' capacity to feed students. Representatives of teachers and a delegation from the Second Vice-Presidency of the Republic have not yet reached an agreement which would put an end to the strike.
Teachers demand the implementation of the deal that was signed by the government back in 2002 as well as the implementation of the 34&percnt increase in salary for civil servants promised by the Head of state in May of this year .
The education ministry has downplayed this issue and in the meantime other trade unions representing teachers have warned that they too might demonstrate on 16th of October if their demands are not met.
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