After nearly three months of halted activities, teachers and students at Marien Ngouabi University in Brazzaville will return to the classroom on Monday, December 30. This follows significant progress in negotiations between the University’s teaching staff and the Government, leading to an agreement to end the strike that began on October 1.
Jean Didier Mbélé, president of the inter-union representing the teaching staff, announced that the government has made concrete commitments to address the educators’ grievances. These include the payment of two months’ salaries, out of four months in arrears, and assurances of regular salary payments moving forward.
“We negotiated with the government and the presidency of Marien Ngouabi University, resulting in a signed statement of conclusions. The government agreed to pay us for November and December 2024, as well as settle the remaining unpaid hours from 2021 and 2022”, Mbélé stated.
Expressing optimism about the resolution, Mbélé highlighted the importance of resuming academic activities for the future of the students. “The government has committed to ensuring regular payments from now on. We could not afford to let this academic year be lost, as the LMD system [Bachelor’s – Master’s – Doctorate] does not allow for blank years. The youth are the future of this country, and their education is paramount”, he emphasized.
Looking ahead, Mbélé reassured that academic standards would not be compromised. “We will not rush through the curriculum. The university’s president will adjust the course schedule to align with UNESCO standards, which mandate 25 weeks of instruction for a complete academic year”.
The resolution brings relief to the university community and underscores the critical role of dialogue in addressing pressing issues within the education sector.