Guinea-Bissau students demand greater oversight of teachers
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on O Democrata
The Confederation of Associations of Students of Public and Private Schools of Guinea-Bissau is calling for tighter oversight of contract teachers accused of neglecting public schools in favour of private ones. Its president Alfa Umaro Só made the demand on 6 November at a press conference on education, according to O Democrata.
The Confederation of Associations of Students of Public and Private Schools of Guinea-Bissau (CAAEPP-GB) is calling on the transitional government to strengthen oversight of contract teachers, whom the organisation accuses of neglecting public schools in favour of private institutions. Its president, Alfa Umaro Só, made the demand on Friday 6 November at a press conference on the education sector.
According to CAAEPP-GB, absenteeism among some contract teachers is disrupting lessons and affecting the quality of public education. The organisation also disputes the government ban on graduation ceremonies for final-year students, which students want to organise in their schools as voluntary initiatives.
The confederation also called for ministers’ children to attend the same public schools as children from low-income families. It also welcomed the government’s decision to grant permanent status to about 5,000 teachers, while calling on the executive to have the financial means needed to pay their salaries and prevent future payment delays, according to Alfa Umaro Só.
The demand comes amid staffing difficulties in public schools. Canchungo High School had started the school year with only 43 teachers, while 300 teachers were missing in Gabú at the start of the school year, according to previously published reports. Guinea-Bissau union calls for regularisation of 1,112 teachers.
