The Gambia Teachers Union has called off a nationwide strike after the government agreed to its demands. 

The key demands include the implementation of the government 30% allowance, better living and working conditions for teachers.

The union is also demanding the government through the ministry of basic and secondary education to work on re-classification of schools knowns as ‘board’ schools and work on initial 50% salary increment that was not applied on ancillary staff including caretakers. 

It also demands the ministry to review and re-submit the new hardship expansion scheme.

Ismaila S. Ceesay, president of The Gambia Teachers Union, told a news conference at the union’s head office in Kanifing today (9 January) that: “I want to use this opportunity to actually declare that the strike is over today with immediate effect. 

“And I want to urge the members of The Gambia Teachers Union to go back to work as soon as possible. The strike is over. And all the demands that are being agreed upon will be worked out.” 

“We at the level of The Gambia Teachers Union will never relent in pursuing the matters of Gambian teachers. Whatever we are asking for here were already there. 

But one way or the other were reduced or stopped. That’s what we are asking the government to bring it back,” he added.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba