Following the disagreement over Synes’ participation in the consultation on September 11 in Yaoundé, the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Jacques Fame Ndongo, expressed on September 13 the willingness to meet the National Union of Higher Education Teachers this week.
The government and Synes express a convergence of views. They want to dialogue to ease tensions. Both parties are moving towards organizing a new consultation meeting after Synes boycotted the one on September 11. Yesterday, Sunday, the Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, spoke through messages during a program on A1 television.
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Professor Jacques Fame Ndongo stated that within the framework of privileged social dialogue for crisis resolution, he is “ready to welcome Synes even this Monday.” The goal is to discuss their demands and the measures taken by the government to address them. In response to this outstretched hand, Synes, through its general secretary, Professor Wogaing, accepts the government’s proposal. Especially since the union has always wanted to dialogue with the government. But the conditions were not met.
The summons of September 9 did not grant a reasonable time for coordinators from the Far North, Adamaoua for example, to reach Yaoundé in less than 48 hours to participate in the consultation. This is why Synes requested a postponement to this week. Having not agreed to Synes’ request, the government held the meeting with other unions present. On Sunday, Minesup declared its willingness to welcome those who did not attend Friday’s meeting. It now remains to set the date and time for the consultations. Synes members lean towards the end of this week, counting on the “elegance” of the minister.
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As the main union of university teachers, Synes claims 82% membership of higher education teachers. Its slogan, which announces a dead academic year, has imposed a strike in state universities since September 3. The demands concern the payment of the full academic debt accumulated between 2000 and 2021, the full payment of allowances related to research modernization for the 4th quarter of 2025 and the first two quarters of 2026.
At the end of Friday’s meeting, Minesup presented the actions already taken by the government to respond to the teachers’ demands. The announced consultations with Synes could lead to the lifting of the strike order that threatens to compromise the upcoming October academic year.