After a observed drop in the level of Burundian students, the government attacked teachers and wanted them to take a level test. Following a threat of a strike and protests by teachers, the test will not take place until the end of negotiations, but this did not please President Évariste Ndayishimiye at all.
President Évariste Ndayishimiye, took advantage of the monthly prayer of his party, the CNDD-FDD organized every last Thursday of the month, to say all the bad things he thinks of the compromise found between the Minister of Education and the unions of teachers. He therefore challenged them to embark on a strike, to the applause of an audience won over by his strong speech.
“ You got to know me, and you want to strike? Try if you want. You know, teaching is not an obligation, you can go raise pigs or chickens, no one will come after you, shouts the president. I remind you that I spend my time teaching you that the state is the 12 million citizens of Burundi. And you claim to be on strike against your employers ? If you refuse to teach their children, they will target you, I warn you ! “.
” We have many young unemployed people that we will train in your place »
Since he has been in business, General Ndayishimiye has cultivated the image of a tough man who does not hesitate to cut to the chase when necessary. This time, he threatened the teachers to kick them all out.
” If you go on strike, I will replace you. So take a gun if you don’t agree, we’ll see if you’ll win against the 12 million citizens of this countryinsists Évariste Ndayishimiye. There have always been retraining for teachers, but as soon as they understood this time that we were going to identify those who do not have the skills required to teach, they threatened to go on strike. Go ahead, go on strike… We have many young unemployed people that we will train in your place. After all, a teacher is trained in three months maximum “.
On Twitter, Parcem, an organization advocating for good governance in Burundi invited the Burundian government ” with caution “. She recalls that the right to strike is recognized by the constitution of Burundi, before concluding that in a democracy, “ strength of argument trumps argument of strength “.
In recent years, the government has initiated a major reform of basic education by setting up what are called Ecofo, basic schools, which combine primary school and college. Teachers point to multiple failures in the system: overcrowded classes, lack of teaching materials, directors appointed on a partisan basis, badly put together programs.
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