Pupils’ parents: “striking Unions turn helpless pupils into “hostages”

A strike call launchedby the National Coordination of teachers of secondary and technical education (Cnapest) was followed by the majority of the high schools in the capital and in other cities in the eastern and western parts of the country,according to the Union.

“A total of 48 secondary schools, 27 are on strike in the capital.

That represents a participation rate of 56.25%, said Monday 16 February, the Cnapest spokesman,Messaoud Hesham.

At the high school ofAcharya Ibrahim in the centre of Algiers, for instance, out of a total of 62 teachers, 39 responded favourably to the strike call of the Cnapest, for a response rate of 65 per cent.

Students voiced opposition to the strike

Questioned by “Echorouk”, numerous high school students saythey are against the strike, which accordingto them will have a negative impact on the smooth running of their studies, knowing that the second  quarter exams are less than two weeks to go only.

Students held “hostage” by repeated teachers’ work stoppages

«In this regard, we will however come in class during the strike, said the hapless students. “There is a review of end of the year exams to be done.

Selfishness on the part of some teachers must cease, they underlined. They should take into consideration the pupils’ future”. 

“Teachers keep us hostage so that they can get more financial spin-offs.

There are other methods of protest except the strike”, several disgruntled students underscored.