Gabon: Discontent May Close Schools Early

UNCLAS LIBREVILLE 000232

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT ALSO FOR AF/C LISA KORTE
PARIS FOR AFRICA WATCHER

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ELAB SOCI PGOV GB

SUBJECT: Gabon: Discontent May Close Schools Early

Ref: 08 Libreville 229

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Summary
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1. (U) Since tense negotiations ended a primary and secondary
teachers' strike in December 2008, the problems facing Gabon's
education sector have multiplied and spread to higher education.
University professors are now on strike, demanding better pay and
working conditions, and their colleagues at the primary and
secondary level threaten to join them if a recently promised salary
supplement is not deposited into their bank accounts by May 25. A
strike would render thousands of high school students ineligible to
take their final exams, forcing them to repeat the school year, and
potentially resulting in demonstrations and unrest. Add to this
discord two unrelated conflicts over nationalized testing, and the
current school year risks coming to a rocky and premature end. End
Summary.

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Strike Threatened If Bonus Not Paid by May 25
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2. (U) At the beginning of the current school year, members of the
National Primary and Secondary Teachers Union (SENA in its French
acronym) launched a strike for better pay and working conditions.
After difficult negotiations, a resolution was reached that allowed
schools to reopen just one day shy of the deadline to avoid a
canceled school year (Ref. A). A new bonus for teachers was the crux
of the agreement reached between SENA and the Education Ministry.
According to Embassy contacts in the labor movement, many teachers
have doubts that the government authorities will keep their promise
regarding the bonus. SENA has therefore threatened to go back on
strike if they do not receive the bonus by May 25 as promised.


3. (SBU) The consequences of even a brief resumption of the strike
would be devastating for graduating high school students who are
preparing to sit their critical "baccalaureate" exams. Under the
UN-administered international standards applicable in Gabon,
students will not have enough class time to prepare for and sit the
exams if any additional days are lost this academic year. Students
joined their teachers in protest during the latest strike, and in
previous years student protests over similar issues turned violent.

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Other High School Students
Have Additional Problems
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4. (U) Trouble is also brewing among an additional group of 3,000
private high school students who failed last year's baccalaureate
exam. In the past, such students have been permitted to sit the
exam a second time the following year. This year, only public
school students are being allowed to repeat the exam. There is a
booming demand for private education in Gabon because of the
deterioration in the quality of public schools, the frequency of
strikes, and limited space.


5. (U) The barred private school students have held small
demonstrations against the Ministry of Education's decision, and
threaten further protests if the decision is not revoked. In
another testing-related conflict, the Ministry has been criticized
for proposing age 16 as the limit for admission to the nationalized
Junior High School entrance exam. Some students and parents have
reacted angrily to the proposed age limit.

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University Professors Also on Strike
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6. (U) University professors organized in the National Union of
Teacher-Researchers (SNEC in its French acronym) recently joined the
fray by launching their own strike for better pay and working
conditions. University professors are also seeking enhanced housing
benefits. According to SNEC, the strike involves 650 professors
employed in Gabon's three universities and four professional
schools. Also according to a source in SNEC, university classes
have been canceled for the week starting May 18 and will not resume
until the Ministry of Education agrees to sit down for
negotiations.

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Comment
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7. (SBU) COMMENT: The problems in Gabon's education system have
been building for years, and there can be no rapid or easy cure.
This is no comfort for students who face a canceled school year, or
are barred from taking a required nationalized test. Gabonese
students are traditionally volatile, and perceived missteps by the
government in handling the education sector's many problems may lead
to further protests. End Comment.

HOLT