By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Authorities in Tunisia on Monday announced the withholding of salary payments for 17,000 teachers who reportedly staged a peaceful protest, demanding an increase in pay.
At least 350 teachers have also been sacked.
As part of their protest, teachers in the country have refused to submit their school grades.
Education Minister Mahamed Ali Bougdiri said “the students’ failure to obtain school grades is a disaster and a crime against children.”
The salary suspensions could affect about 30 per cent of the country’s primary school teachers, a Reuters report says.
It will also escalate the industrial disharmony between the government and the powerful UGTT union at a time when the North African country’s citizens grapple with growing economic crisis.
Ikbel Azzabi, a union official, told reporters that Tunisia’s decision aims at “starving teachers”, and the next school season would be difficult due to expected protests.
Hundreds of school principals have already started submitting their resignations.
The education ministry maintains that the country’s public finances do not support the teachers’ requests for pay rise.
Most people fear that the conflict between the ministry and union will deepen the ongoing crisis in Tunisia and threaten the new school season, amidst high inflation, poor public services, and loss of food commodities.
