The Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (MoBSE) has warned that it will no longer tolerate “sit-down” protests by private school teachers who abandon classrooms without first following established grievance procedures.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry expressed concern over what it described as the increasing frequency of protest actions by some private school teachers, saying they were being carried out without prior engagement with either the Ministry or the Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU).

MoBSE said concerns relating to salaries, welfare and other conditions of service must be channelled through official structures, including the Ministry’s regional directorates or the GTU, to ensure they are properly documented and addressed.

The Ministry stressed that disrupting classes over remuneration or other grievances without exhausting the available dispute-resolution mechanisms would no longer be accepted.

It reminded teachers to seek redress through the GTU and other established channels before considering any industrial action.

MoBSE said maintaining academic continuity remains a top priority, warning that repeated classroom disruptions undermine pupils’ learning and the smooth implementation of the school calendar.

The Ministry also reaffirmed its commitment to improving the welfare of both public and private school teachers while ensuring that quality education is not compromised.

It said it would continue working to balance the rights of teachers with its responsibility to provide uninterrupted education for children across The Gambia.

By Adama Makasuba