The Gambian government, through its Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, has issued an apology and moved swiftly to address teachers’ grievances after the country’s teachers union threatened an education blackout starting Monday (2 Dec) over unpaid November salaries.

The union highlighted that senior secondary school teachers were particularly affected, adding that despite attempts to resolve the issue diplomatically, the government had ignored their concerns.

Union President Ismaila Ceesay described the Ministry of Finance’s actions as a “blatant disregard for the livelihoods of teachers and ancillary staff in the affected schools.”

In response to the backlash, the Ministry of Finance issued a statement today (1 Dec) promising to address the matter with urgency.

“We wish to assure the union and the general public that all payments were processed on Friday, November 29, 2024, in line with the planned payment schedule. The Ministry remains committed to fulfilling its obligations to support the education sector and ensure uninterrupted learning for students across the country,” the statement read.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba