Gambiaj.com – (Serrekunda, The Gambia) – The Gambia Teachers Union (GTU) is threatening to call an indefinite nationwide strike if the government fails to pay graduate allowances to teachers in grant-aided schools with retroactive effect from January and address ongoing discrepancies in salary payments by the end of May, The Standard newspaper reports.

The Standard says GTU President Ismaila Ceesay voiced strong criticism against the government for the inconsistent disbursement of salaries and allowances following a 30 percent salary increment in January. Mr. Ceesay highlighted a significant disparity where graduate allowances, revised for teachers in grades 8 to 12 within mainstream government schools, have not been received by their counterparts in subvented (grant-aided) schools since the revision.

“This differential treatment has caused a lot of concern within the teaching fraternity,” Ceesay stated. He revealed that despite numerous engagements with the government, the issue remains unresolved.

“We want to know why the preferential treatment. Even with salary payments, teachers in subvented schools receive theirs very late, unlike those in mainstream schools who receive theirs early. Why should there be that preferential treatment?” he questioned, pointing blame at the Ministries of Finance and Public Service.

Ceesay recalled a high-stakes meeting convened by the Vice President, attended by key government officials, where a firm commitment was made to resolve delays in salary and allowance payments, among other challenges faced by the education sector.

While January salaries were paid on time following this meeting, subsequent salary payments for teachers in subvented schools, including those for April, have been delayed.

“I want to warn the government that we are no longer accepting this,” Ceesay declared in The Standard newspaper on Friday. “If salaries of subvented schools are delayed this month and graduate allowances are not paid, we are not ruling out a strike, and this time around, it will be indefinite and non-negotiable.”

He clarified that graduate or professional allowances are entitled to teachers holding university degrees, suggesting a deliberate attempt by the government to “frustrate teachers in that sector.” He firmly stated, “Let them be ready for us. And if these allowances are not paid back by the end of May with a drawback from January, we would have no option but to go on strike.”

Beyond the allowance issue, Ceesay asserted that the education sector is grappling with numerous problems due to the government’s lack of prioritization.

He highlighted the critical issue of the delayed supply of textbooks for Grade 10 students, now in their third term, which is severely impacting teaching and learning in senior secondary schools.

Furthermore, Ceesay criticized the government’s failure to increase the Schools Improvement Grant since its inception in 2013. This grant is intended to help schools address essential needs, including the payment of ancillary staff and the provision of teaching and learning materials.

The GTU’s strong stance signals a potential crisis in the country’s education sector if the government fails to address these grievances promptly.

Source: The Standard