STUDENTS IN GUINEA BISSAU PROTEST OVER STRIKE THREAT BY TEACHERS

Guinea- Bissau, is one of the least countries in the world on the Human development Index of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). In early January, Teachers Union in Guinea-Bissau ended a four month strike action after a deal with the government to pay back wages. But on Tuesday, the teachers’ union said the government has failed to keep to their promises, they therefore threatened to resume the strike on Monday February 11.

The proposed strike sparked up a protest by students in Guinea- Bissau which turned chaotic on Friday. Reports have it that during the protest, students looted different shops which didn’t exclude the house of a minister of the ruling party.

The aggrieved students blocked roads and burned tires with some said to have wielded clubs and set vehicles on fire. Students wore banners with the inscription ‘’ We want to go to school’‘, ‘’ We are tired of staying at home’‘ or ”Education is a right”.

Carlos Badilé a student at the Agostino Neto High School was quoted saying “They don’t care about us. All they think about is campaign. Look at all these big cars, these banners deployed all over the country, don’t you think that the money spent could have taken care of the teachers demands,”.

Police dispersed the protesters using warning shots to. The situation is said to be under control as police continue to patrol the capital, Bissau.