The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate said it is “closely following the escalating mobilization of teachers across several Sudanese states, which has taken the form of an open and gradual strike in protest against deteriorating living conditions, the erosion of wages, and the continued withholding of financial entitlements since the outbreak of the war.”
In a statement, the syndicate reaffirmed its principled support for workers across various sectors and stressed the following:
First: Full solidarity with the legitimate right of teachers to engage in peaceful strike action as a lawful trade union tool to defend their professional and economic rights and demands. The syndicate emphasized the legitimacy of the strike and the fairness of its demands, based on constitutional principles and relevant national and international conventions.
Second: Holding the Sudanese government fully responsible for the worsening conditions in the education sector, while warning against any administrative or punitive measures targeting striking teachers, as such actions could further complicate the crisis and undermine opportunities for resolving it through dialogue.
Third: Calling for an urgent response to the demands of teachers, who continue to fulfill their educational mission under extremely difficult economic and living conditions, through the establishment of a fair minimum wage and the payment of all outstanding financial entitlements.
The statement also praised the protest organized by female teachers in Kassala State, where participants called for a fair salary structure, an increase in the minimum wage, payment of arrears accumulated since the start of the war, improvements to the educational environment, and increased public spending on education.
The syndicate further commended the strike by teachers in Al Jazirah State and the preparations by teachers in Khartoum State to begin a phased strike in the coming period. It said the broad-based movement, which has spread to several Sudanese cities, reflects a legitimate determination to defend the professional and economic rights of education workers.
The statement called on trade unions, professional associations, and civil society organizations to stand in solidarity with teachers and support their just demands, stressing that education is one of the fundamental pillars of state-building and safeguarding the future of coming generations.
Accordingly, the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate urged the Sudanese government to open a serious, transparent, and responsible dialogue with representatives of teachers to address the deepening crisis in the education sector and to ensure the immediate payment of overdue salaries and financial entitlements.
