Gabon’s education system has been severely disrupted as teachers across the country down tools, leaving thousands of pupils out of classrooms and raising concerns about the impact on learning outcomes.

The strike, driven by long-standing grievances over pay, working conditions and the implementation of government commitments, has paralysed public schools and universities. Teaching staff say repeated negotiations with authorities have failed to yield concrete results, forcing them to resort to industrial action.

Parents and learners have been left in limbo, with uncertainty growing over when classes will resume and whether the academic calendar will be extended to make up for lost time. Education unions warn that prolonged disruption risks widening inequalities and undermining recent efforts to improve the quality of education.

Government officials have acknowledged the disruption and say discussions with unions are ongoing, but have urged teachers to return to work while talks continue. For now, however, classrooms remain largely empty, highlighting the deep tensions within one of the country’s most critical public sectors.

–ChannelAfrica–