Lecturers and PM try to resolve university crisis

Lecturers and researchers who have been on strike since February have met Prime Minister Raymond Ndong Sima to try to find a solution to the critical situation in higher education institutions in Gabon.

Africa Info reported that the meeting in Libreville was the third in two months to try to solve a crisis that has paralysed universities, grandes écoles and institutes as a result of the lecturer and researcher strike.

The resumption of dialogue between the government and unions provided the only opportunity to save the students from a threatened lost year, said Africa Info. It added that the strikers’ claims would cost the government 18 billion FCFA (US$35.8 million) for slightly fewer than 1,300 staff.

In 2000 a similar strike led to a wasted year throughout Gabon’s higher education institutions. The two unions currently representing lecturers and researchers disagreed on the best course to follow, said Africa Info.

* This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original report.