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Burundi: Teachers of Nyanza-Lac Primary School on Strike

13 February 2008

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Bujumbura — Teachers of the Nyanza-Lac Primary school went on strike today to claim their rights. This strike follows an incident which occurred in the Nyanza-Lac primary school where teachers were pupils hit their teachers.

A new phenomenon continues to unfold in various schools of Burundi. In Gihanga commune, people looted five teachers of the primary of school of Gihungwe at the beginning of the last week. They also raped two female teachers. Following this incident, all teachers of Gihanga commune staged a two-day strike which ended yesterday. Yet the union of primary school teachers threatens to go on strike on 15 February 2008 in case the government fails to arrest those who carried out this ill-treatment to teachers. Prior investigations have shown that some parents and pupils on one side have teamed up to commit this ill-treatment. This incident followed a misunderstanding between a part of parents and pupils on one side and teachers on the other. The administrative officials in Gihanga commune were aware of the situation, but they downplayed it.

The Vice-Minister, Mr.Ernest Mberamiheto, in charge of the primary education says that the police have already arrested two people in connection with this incident. He demands teachers to continue teaching.

Incidents targeting teachers have increased sharply over the past months. Unions of teachers say that they counted many cases where the ruling party and the administration have ill-treated teachers in Bubanza, Cibitoke, Makamba, Ngozi and Kayanza provinces.

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