By Mama A. Touray
Louis Moses Mendy, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education has explained reasons led to a recent nationwide strike of teachers in public schools.
Speaking at a news conference organised by the Ministry and held in the MoBSE premises in Banjul on Thursday, he explained “the government books was closed in December 2021, there were some challenges at payment point and we followed those challenges results and we were already in 2022. Even, if we are to pay at that time we couldn’t pay because payment process was already closed.”
According to him, things could have only been done in January but the payment point was the challenge which could not be resolved at that point or within the given time by the Teacher’s Union. He continued that there is always a step and level to everything which everyone should be involved, as they engaged Gambia Teachers’ Union hoping that all of this will be done within the given time.
He went further in his explanation that after the payment of the first Covid-19 allowance while other was pending the teachers’ union was engaged but the challenge arised as they were instucted to pay every teacher. So there is need to know who are these teachers to be paid, they have to ascertain which teachers must be paid and this must take some times which is what has led to the sit-down strike.
The PS expressed had it known to them earlier that every teacher must be paid, it wouldnt have become an issue.
He therefore appreciated all that have taken it upon them by coming out with good initiative to see that the issue resolve.
Meanwhile, Ousman Bah, Director of Region One, as well commented on the issue while disclosed that information doesnt filter to parents when the strike was called off, a reason some parents kepts their children at home “believing that there is no teaching and learning in schools.”
