Gabonese University Teachers On Strike Again

PANA, 25 June 2000

LIBREVILLE, Gabon (PANA)—Gabonese university lecturers and researchers Saturday voted, during general meetings in Franceville and Libreville, to go on another unlimited strike to press their demands.

The lecturers said they were resuming their strike because government authorities had failed to honour the promises made by President Omar Bongo on 13 May.

The higher education teachers and researchers had earlier gone on strike on 28 April to demand the election of all directors of higher learning institutions.

A circular from the minister for higher education suspending the election process prompted this demand.

According to a statement issued by the chairman of the lecturers and researchers, academicians at the Masuku science and technical university of Franceville as well as those at Libreville's Omar Bongo University backed the strike action.

These have suspended giving lectures, examinations or supervising theses for higher degrees in all institutions falling under the ministry of higher education.

They have also suspended the participation of teachers and researchers in the 1999-2000 high school examinations. They promised to continue the strike until when all the promises made by President Bongo have been fulfilled.