Sudan Teachers Strike Over $13.20 Monthly Salary
For a third week, teachers in Khartoum State have gone on strike due to meagre salaries and dilapidated schools, with many struggling to survive on their monthly wages
Teachers in Sudan have gone on strike for a third week due to meagre salaries and dilapidated schools, with many struggling to survive on their monthly wages. Amal Suleiman Ahmed al-Haj, a secondary school teacher in Sudan, has a monthly salary of 132,000 Sudanese pounds ($13.20), which only covers her family’s basic needs for a few days.
The cost of a cooking gas cylinder in Sudan is about 170,000 pounds ($17), exceeding Amal's monthly salary. This highlights the struggles teachers face in making ends meet. Teachers in Khartoum State have gone on strike to demand better working conditions and higher salaries.
Teachers are unhappy with the lack of opportunities for promotion and accumulated unpaid entitlements. They have submitted memorandums to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Finance, and the presidential palace to demand their rights. However, their efforts have been met with no response, leading to the strike.
Some classrooms in Sudan's schools are no longer suitable for teaching due to war and lack of investment. Many teachers are considering leaving the profession due to the poor working conditions and low salaries. Some teachers have already quit their jobs, taken unpaid leave, or sought alternative sources of income.
## Why it matters The strike has resulted in the suspension of classes, affecting the education of thousands of students. The situation is a result of exhausted official channels to demand their rights. With teachers struggling to survive on their monthly wages, the future of education in Sudan hangs in the balance. The strike highlights the need for the government to address the issues faced by teachers and invest in the education sector.
The situation in Sudan is a result of years of war and lack of investment in the education sector. Teachers like Amal have been left to struggle, with many forced to find alternative sources of income to supplement their meagre salaries. The strike is a desperate attempt by teachers to bring attention to their plight and demand change.
