Teachers suspend strike for one week pending ministry response

Public school teachers decided to suspend nation-wide strikes for one week until the education ministry presents a timeline for meeting their demands following a mass protest on Saturday.

But teachers in some schools in Beni Seuif, Sharkiya, Suez and parts of Cairo continued the strike pending “positive steps” by the ministry, said Hala Talaat, activist and teacher.

Thousands of teachers protested outside the Cabinet building Saturday calling on the Minister of Education to step down, following a partial week-long strike across the country.

Teachers have been on strike since the start of the academic year on Sept. 17. While the ministry has downplayed the size of the strike, activists said it was across the country.

A number of teachers have reportedly prevented students from entering certain schools.

The strike came on the heels of a protest on Sept. 10, when thousands demonstrated outside Cabinet to voice their demands.

Teachers are demanding better pay and working conditions and greater government investment into what they believe is a notoriously overburdened educational system.

The demands include the resignation of Education Minister Ahmed Gamal El-Din Moussa, the payment of a promised 200 percent incentive, and hiring teachers on temporary contracts. Teachers have also asked for a minimum wage of LE 3,000.

On Saturday, the demonstration blocked traffic on Qasr El-Einy and Magles El-Shaab Streets, leading to a complete block in downtown Cairo.