Africa-Press – Cape verde. The general teachers’ strike is enjoying strong support, mainly in the Capital, Assomada, Mindelo and Sal, where participation exceeds 90 percent of teachers (see articles in this newspaper ). The day of struggle continues tomorrow with a concentration of teachers in front of the National Assembly that debates the State Budget for 2024 and demonstrations of protests in São Vicente, Santo Antão and Sal.
According to SINDEP, in Santiago teachers’ adherence to the strike is close to 100%. At Escola Secundária Abílio Duarte in Palmarejo, there are a total of 106 teachers, 50 more of whom work in the mornings. Of these, only six, including one for religious reasons, did not join the strike, but no one taught. In other words, the School was completely paralyzed, as this newspaper found out on the ground.
In schools on January 13th in Palmarejo, adherence was 100 percent. At Mira Flores and Escola da Igreja Adventista, teachers’ participation in the strike was almost 100 percent. The same scenario was repeated in several other primary and secondary schools in the municipality of Praia. The island of Fogo was, however, an exception, where teacher participation was weaker.
«This general strike was a clear response from teachers to this government’s feint regarding the increase in class salaries and the resolution of pending demands», said the president of SINDEP, for whom the unions had no other option than strike of classes across the country, in the face of fruitless meetings with the government.
Jorge Cardoso announces a new strike for December, if Ulisses Correia e Silva’s executive continues to block the resolution of teachers’ problems.
Protests in front of the National Assembly
Based on the information collected by this newspaper, teachers are determined to continue the fight for a salary increase and the resolution of all outstanding demands.
This Thursday, the 23rd, the union day reaches its high point with the concentration of protests by teachers in front of the National Assembly, where the government and national deputies debate the State Budget for 2024, which does not include a salary increase for teachers.
Speaking to Asemanaonline, a teacher from Escola Abílio Duarte expressed concern about the fact that two years before the National Police had passed by the place and questioned the strikers about what they intended to do during this Thursday’s concentration in front of the National Assembly. «We hope that the PN will not condition our right to strike and demonstrate, as provided for in the Constitution of the Republic», warned the same source.
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