STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHUT DUE TO TEACHERS' STRIKE

UNCLAS ABIDJAN 001314 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ELAB PREL KPKO IV SUBJECT: STATE PRIMARY SCHOOLS SHUT DUE TO TEACHERS' STRIKE REF: ABIDJAN 789 ¶1. On November 9, 2006, the Primary School Teachers, Movement for the Defense of their Rights, known as Mouvement des Instituteurs pour la Defense de leurs Droits (MIDD), launched a strike to protest the government's failure to grant USD 80 (CFAF 40,000) per month in housing allowances for primary school teachers. State primary schools have been shut down throughout the country as all primary school teachers, including the minority of teachers not formally of the MIDD, have been on strike. On November 15, 2006, the Ministry of Education held talks with the MIDD members, but no agreement was reached on this key grievance. Though not officially recognized as a legal union (they have applied for such status in April 2006) the MIDD is a powerful movement made up of roughly 30,000 public sector primary school teachers out of a total of 35,000 in Cote d'Ivoire. ¶2. This is the second strike the MIDD has launched since June. In June 2006 (reftel),the MIDD went on strike to draw the government's attention to the housing problems that are common among primary school teachers. Following initial talks, the Ministry of Education agreed to create an inter-ministerial committee, comprised of representatives of the MIDD as well as from the Ministries of Education, Labor, and Finance, to analyze the demands. Trusting the initiative, the MIDD ended its strike on July 31, 2006 and proceeded with the normal process of grading year-end exams that took place on August 1. ¶3. Since the creation of the committee, the government has failed to take any further action. Denouncing the ineffectiveness of the committee and also questioning the sincerity of the government in creating it, the MIDD says it will continue the strike until a decree granting the housing allowance is signed. In addition, private primary school teachers met with the Minister of Integration on November 27 to discuss similar grievances with salary issues. ¶4. Comment: Though the demanded amount per teacher is relatively small, the collective amount owed if the decree is signed is over 1.5 billion CFAF (roughly 2.8 million USD) per month. Resolution of this issue requires consensus from the Ministry of Finance, which may be difficult given the total sums involved and the ongoing political situation that has occupied nearly the full attention of the Prime Minister. The Ministry of Education will meet with leaders of the MIDD on November 28, but until some resolution is reached, the majority of Ivorian children are not attending classes. End comment. Hooks