The Sudanese Teachers Committee announced the start of a strike on Sunday across Khartoum State in protest against low salaries, deteriorating living conditions, and the government’s failure to pay outstanding financial entitlements, including salaries, allowances, grants, and benefits. The committee also noted that the Eid al-Adha holiday passed without the payment of salaries or due grants.
In a statement, the committee said that “what is happening reflects a clear disregard for the suffering of teachers and their families, at a time when state resources are being spent on other priorities that do not address citizens’ basic needs.” It also accused the authorities of favoring other sectors through salary increases and the payment of grants, allowances, and additional benefits.
The statement added that the protest action reflects the growing anger among teachers after years of neglect and marginalization, emphasizing that the continuation of the educational process requires safeguarding teachers’ dignity and ensuring a minimum standard of living for them and their families.
The committee reiterated its demands, including raising the minimum wage from 12,000 Sudanese pounds to 216,000 Sudanese pounds, paying all outstanding salaries and benefits, and implementing long-overdue promotions for male and female teachers.
The committee also called for an end to policies of forced leave and the unfair dismissal of teachers from service. Furthermore, it urged the government to fulfill its responsibility to fund education as a basic right and to avoid shifting the financial burden of education onto families.
