“The (teachers’) strike was postponed until November, because of these points that I just explained. We are starting the academic year, the strike is a right, but we are sure that it will not paralyze higher education as it did not happen”, Maria do Rosário Bragança replied to Lusa.
Speaking at the end of the solemn opening ceremony of the 2023/2024 academic year, with classes starting next Monday, the governor said that most of the university professors' demands have already been resolved.
He highlighted a set of situations presented by the public National Union of Higher Education Teachers (Sinpes), which have already been resolved, such as continuous training, career progression, which covered more than 1000 teachers, as well as the “total settlement” of the debt with teachers and administrative staff in the sector.
“It was also established, and is in the budget of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), that there would be allocation of a specific amount for public universities, institutes and higher schools, in an amount from the 2023 General State Budget that exceeds one billion kwanzas” , he maintained.
The Minister of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation acknowledged that Sinpes' demand for a salary increase remains, considering that it should be supported by the Government's recent program on salary standardization in public administration.
In relation to health insurance, also requested by teachers, the government official said that the sector she oversees does not have the financial resources for this purpose.
“Obviously, without financial resources we cannot resolve the situation”, he responded to Lusa, considering that the sector's challenges are linked to the continuity of the quality assessment process.
Last June, Sinpes suspended the third phase of the strike, which could be resumed on November 10th, demanding better working and salary conditions, improved infrastructure, health insurance, subsidies and funding for research.
Regarding the improvement of the infrastructures of HEIs spread across the 18 provinces, Maria do Rosário Sambo stated that the body that oversees them “is not satisfied” with their current state.
“There have been public statements by His Excellency the President of the Republic regarding investment in improving infrastructure, an improvement that aims to absorb the greatest number of students and provide social accommodation conditions”, she noted.
Asked about the constant pressure she has been subjected to from teachers and students in the higher education subsystem, the minister said that she took on the position with a sense of mission and the aforementioned pressure “is healthy”.
“Because I am a teacher, I know the problems and I am not surprised by this pressure, understood as the normal demand that exists for everyone to achieve greater qualifications, whether at higher or secondary level. Therefore, I value healthy pressure”, concluded the government official.
