The teachers gathered in the Coordination of Education Unions of Togo (CSET) are intransigent. Despite meeting with the government at the beginning of the week, the ETSB maintained its disengagement movements.
The education sector, like all other sectors of the country, is in critical condition. And this, because of the empty promises and the delay of the first officials of the country.
Nothing has moved, the power "does not want to bleed" the national fund.
Last Tuesday, during the meeting between a delegation of the National Bureau of the ETSB led by the coordinator, ATSOU-ATCHA and the government represented by the Minister of the Public Service and that of the Primary and Secondary Education and Vocational Training, exchanges have not been successful.
According to the report of the meeting made public by the ETSB, the government says that it is not economically able to meet teachers' demands for bonuses and allowances. And if it is necessary, at any price, to satisfy these demands, the national fund will be seriously bleeding. Worse, the state runs the risk of a large budget deficit, or even a bankruptcy whose consequences will prove disastrous.
"In their development, Ministers reiterated once again that the government is facing serious financial difficulties in responding to the ETSB's grievances regarding the awarding of bonuses and allowances to teachers on behalf of 2018 and a Improving the 2019 envelope. Even the two billion franc proposal for 2019 for bonuses and allowances is a political decision that runs counter to the forecasts of the finance services, we learn. If it were up to the Minister of Economy and Finance, technically speaking, nothing could be granted to teachers until 2019, according to government officials.
It has also been shown that following losses of tens of billions caused by the political crisis, the budget collective planned for November is returned in the first half of the year. According to the same explanations, to want, at any price, to force the satisfaction of current trade union grievances, the Togolese State runs the risk of a big budget deficit, even a bankruptcy whose consequences will lead for example to a reduction of the expenses, to the suspension of new recruitments in the public service, the blocking of promotions, etc. "Reads the report.
Of course ! This argument by the government that the satisfaction of teachers' demands for bonuses and allowances will bleed the state fund has not convinced ATSOU-ATCHA and its "comrades".
When we know that this regime that governs the country already spends billions to organize elections (which no longer interest the Togolese) and buy the latest military equipment (while the country is not at war).
Strike to the satisfaction
The teachers, who know the Togolese government well, did not take the bait. Especially since some of their comrades are threatened and arrested without any form of trial. They cling to their claim platform and intend to continue the walkouts.
"The only thing that coordination needs to calm down the comrades is to take into account the grievances expressed at the previous meeting. This is to raise the envelope of the two billion planned for 2019 and make an acceptable proposal for 2018. The delegation of the National Office said that the government does not make it easy for the lack of new proposals concrete so that it can convince the base always remained on its thirst, "says the report.
The ETSB rejects any compromise with the government. And the standoff continues to the chagrin of students who, since the beginning of strikes, go down the streets to claim their teachers. Parents of students, too, do not fray. At the pace where things are going, we are already wondering what color will be this 2017-2018 school year.
Beyond the bonuses and allowances, the ETSB claims the special status of teachers. It also requires the release of comrades arrested earlier this week by the police.
Note that the "comrades" Claude Pelelem was released yesterday.
A. Godfrey
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