A protest by trainee teachers from Guinea-Bissau’s Higher School of Education (ESE) was broken up by police in Bissau on November 6, with officers reportedly using batons, resulting in injuries and arrests, according to Januário Meb, president of the trainees’ Commission at ESE “Tchico Té.”
The demonstration, involving about 50 teachers, was organized to oppose recent fee hikes introduced by Education Minister Henry Mané, who announced on October 16 that monthly tuition would increase to 10,000 CFA francs (€15) for degree programs and 7,500 CFA francs (€11) for bachelor’s degrees at ESE schools. Previously, fees were under 5,000 CFA francs (€8), in a country where the average salary is around 60,000 CFA francs (€90).
Minister Mané defended the fee increases, stating they were necessary for the financial stability of ESE institutions and would allow improvements in education quality. He suggested that those dissatisfied with public school costs could seek private alternatives, remarking, “Those who don’t want to study in a public school can go to a private school… Go there and see if they pay four thousand and one hundred CFA francs per month.”
The trainees also aimed to demand the release of their final assessment grades, which have yet to be published at ESE “Tchico Té.”