DRC: truce in public universities after two months of strike
The University of Kinshasa, January 19, 2015. AFP - PAPY MULONGO
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
In the Democratic Republic of Congo, a joint statement ends a two-month strike in public universities.
The union bench announced last night the resumption of classes this Thursday, March 3, even if the negotiations have not yet ended with the government.
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With our correspondent in Kinshasa
,
Pascal Mulegwa
To convince the teachers of the university, the government agreed to respond to their flagship demand: that of revising the salary scale upwards.
“
We won the case.
It is not today that we will feel it, but in a few days,
explains Professor Rodolphe Iyolo, representative of the academic union bench
.
I believe that the government bench will respond to some of our demands and others will follow in stages.
Those who are ready can already begin to resume the teachings.
»
Find an agreement quickly in the interest of students
With more than 50 days without activity, universities ran the risk of closing their doors for the current year in accordance with the law.
“
We have lost two months,
regrets the Minister of Higher Education Muhindo Nzangi.
We are going to try to ask the management committees to make a schedule that will allow us to be able to recover the time lost, but indeed if we find that in this time that we have left we do not know how to reach the end, we can make arrangements as as supervising ministry.
»
The Minister of Higher Education recalls that an agreement must be reached quickly, it is in the interest of the students.
Despite the assurances, the unions' statement still leaves a sword of Damocles hanging over the government.
Another stage of negotiations should begin on March 7 in the framework of a joint committee.
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