Unions Announce Suspension of Their Participation in the Technical Committee for the Teachers’ Housing Support Fund

Dozens of educational unions have announced the suspension of their participation in the sessions of the technical committee tasked with establishing procedures for the Teachers’ Housing Support Fund.

In a statement signed by 35 unions, it was stated that “the housing policy demand has remained one of the fundamental demands of the basic and secondary education unions. This demand was addressed by the president’s announcement to create a fund to support teachers’ housing, and the government was obligated to consult with teacher representatives on this matter. Preparatory steps for the fund began with the representatives of the union spectrum meeting with the ministerial committee formed for this purpose.”

The statement added that the work of the technical committee tasked with establishing the fund’s procedures started shortly after, lasting about three months, during which the unions showed a serious approach, sparing no effort in offering appropriate ideas that would protect the teachers’ interests while making compromises that take into account the country’s economic situation.

According to the statement, an agreement was reached to draft a report defining the support amount and the conditions for eligibility. “However, in its last meeting, the governmental side of the ministerial committee expressed strange directions that would distort the fund’s path, making it a slow process from which the desired benefits for teachers in the field—both morally and financially—will not be achieved. It was decided that the beneficiaries would be exclusively retirees annually, which would represent no more than 2% of the total number of beneficiaries.”

The educational unions reiterated their appreciation for President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani’s decision to create a fund for teachers’ housing. However, they also expressed their surprise at the direction taken by the governmental side of the ministerial committee at the end of the consultations, which the unions had participated in as part of the technical committee. They confirmed their suspension of participation in this committee until the “strange” direction is reviewed.

The unions demanded the government reverse the decision to limit the benefit to retirees at the outset so that all categories of teachers could benefit from it.

They also reminded that the unions have the right to take appropriate actions should the government refuse full partnership in the management of the fund.