Teachers’ movements and trade unions have been demanding better working conditions and career advancement for over a year.

As the global education community pauses to celebrate the 29th annual Teachers’ Day, in Cameroon the celebrations may be under way, but the day is marked by ongoing demands. In the nations’ capital, Yaounde, the Ministry of Basic Education is the setting for the celebrations of those involved in basic education. The multi-purpose sports palace will be the venue for a meeting of those involved in secondary education.

On these and many more points, the head of state, in March 2022, ordered the government to implement measures to respond to the teachers’ demands. Some time later, members of the government declared that they had given the beginnings of a response and set deadlines for completing the rest. Initially, the teachers were cooperative and suspended their strike. But as time went on, they resumed the strike because the government was not meeting their demands.

Seven Ministers responded by issuing a statement outlining the measures already taken between March 2022 and October 2023, as well as those planned for the coming months. However, it seems that the government’s response will only make the situation worse. On 04 October 2023, the primary and secondary teachers’ unions issued a new strike call. Their plan is for a general strike to be held from next week.