Secondary school teachers in Khartoum State have entered the third week of a crippling strike, protesting monthly salaries that have plummeted to a mere 132,000 Sudanese pounds ($13.20). This meager sum fails to sustain families for more than a few days, especially as basic commodities such as a cooking gas cylinder cost around 170,000 pounds ($17).
Key Takeaways: Sudanese teachers are maintaining a prolonged strike over a monthly salary of just $13.20 amidst skyrocketing inflation and worsening school conditions. Officials allegedly attempted to undermine the labor action through partial payments and relaxed administrative controls, leaving the crisis unresolved.
Decades of service by veteran educators like Amal Suleiman Ahmed al-Haj have been overshadowed by the ongoing conflict and severe underinvestment. Classrooms lack basic structural integrity, with collapsed roofs exposing students and staff directly to the harsh sun. Many educators report suffering from exhaustion and malnutrition, forcing them to seek secondary employment just to survive.
Sami al-Baqir, spokesperson for the Sudanese Teachers’ Committee, noted that while initial participation was high, the authorities allegedly deployed tactics to weaken the strike, including superficial attendance measures and isolated payouts. Although Prime Minister Kamil Idris recently ordered the settlement of arrears, the lack of a detailed payment schedule or systemic reform has perpetuated the deadlock.
The teachers' union remains braced for a protracted struggle against the Sudanese authorities as confidence in the educational administration hits rock bottom. Without immediate intervention, experts warn that the country faces a permanent flight of qualified educators and the total collapse of public schooling.
Source: www.aljazeera.com