Following promises to “get children back to school” and secure additional resources for education, Prime Minister Succès Masra, alongside Minister Ndolembai Sadé Njesada, met with representatives of teachers on Friday, January 5. They aim to swiftly facilitate the resumption of classes, as the education sector has been at a standstill due to a strike since early November 2023.
These meetings with the executive board of the Chad Teachers’ Union and the crisis committee, announced since Succès Masra took office, were crucial for the new head of government. He pledged to prioritize the resumption of classes. Since early November 2023, public school teachers have been on strike, demanding the payment of bonuses and clearing salary arrears accumulated since 2016.
Return to classrooms within ten days
Succès Masra calls for a return to classrooms within ten days. In return, he promises to address teachers’ concerns: “With this strong commitment, if we can have our children in school within a week, why not? By January 15, give us 100 days where we will work simultaneously to mobilize all energies, so that the state works even better, being more supportive of teachers.”
To illustrate his commitment to education, the transitional Prime Minister promises to dedicate two hours of his time every weekend to teaching. He urges members of his government to do the same, based on their expertise.