New school year brings hope for Mauritanian teachers

28/10/2008

Mauritanian teachers and students are excited about the new school year. The government promised to deal with the difficulties and solve problems.

By Mohamed Yahya Ould Abdel Wedoud for Magharebia in Nouakchott – 28/10/08

[File] Mauritanian students suffered last year from an extended teachers' strike, when an estimated 80% of educators left the classroom in protest.

The new school year began in Mauritania with a general feeling of optimism. The government has promised the teachers better treatment and recognition of the difficulties they face, and the teachers vow to provide a full year of education. Minister of National Education Ahmed Ould Abah said in a speech addressing students and teachers on October 12th that this year, the ministry has provided all the means and requirements necessary to improve the education sector in the country.

"For the first time," the minister said, "each student will receive a bag containing a set of necessary school supplies, and the curriculum will be at the hands of teachers."

Earlier this year, teachers' unions in Mauritania went on a 45-day strike to protest unfit working conditions, also demanding higher pay and a review of the laws on promotions. The government at the time said it refused to be blackmailed and would not hold talks with the unions and suspended the salaries of strikers, but agreed to take the concerns under consideration.

"The ministry will do its best to improve the condition of teachers both financially and morally," Ould Abah said in his speech, confirming the government's earlier promise. "We can't just give up on this option, which comes as a response to teachers' unions. The Ministry shall also repay the parts of teachers' salaries which were deducted last year because of the strike."

Unions welcomed the ministry's understanding of their strike last year, and said they looked forward to a new school year characterised by dedication and hard work.

Mohammed Ould Rabani, Secretary-General of the Teachers' Union, said the syndicate welcomes the "Ministry's positive reaction to the educational family. We are looking forward to more consultation over the means to improve working conditions."

"I think that the return of our salaries is a moral thing first, but also a practical thing," said Ahmed Talib, a secondary school teacher. "This step constitutes a retraction by the Ministry on the policy of deterrence it has adopted in the past, and which wouldn't serve neither the student nor the teacher who looks to improve his situation. This of course is not enough because our demands have not been met yet, but it's a good start."

Students are excited too. During the strike last year, they were worried about the education they were receiving, when estimates showed 80% of the country's teachers had walked out.

"It seems that this year will be very special because of the prevailing atmosphere of understanding between the different elements of the educational process," said Mohammed al-Fath, a secondary school student. We have seen how the strike made a lot of students fail last year." Al-Fath is in the last year of secondary school. He will take the baccalaureate by the end of the year and he is now more confident in the education system, he said. He is determined to succeed.

"Two of my brothers have succeeded in the last baccalaureate, and I hope to join them. It's good to win the bet and realise our dreams."