Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09ABIDJAN223, TEACHERS' STRIKE IN COTE D'IVOIRE REFLECTS FRAYING SOCIAL

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09ABIDJAN223.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09ABIDJAN223 2009-04-02 16:27 2011-08-24 16:30 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Abidjan
P 021627Z APR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ABIDJAN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5050
ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
UNCLAS ABIDJAN 000223 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PGOV SOCI ECON KPAO IV
SUBJECT: TEACHERS' STRIKE IN COTE D'IVOIRE REFLECTS FRAYING SOCIAL 
STRUCTURE 
 
1  (U) SUMMARY:  On March 16, 2009, secondary school teachers called 
off a nationwide strike that had closed schools on and off since 
January 2009.  The teachers' demands for better pay and working 
conditions began in November 2008 with several mini-protests, 
including the withholding of students' grades.  After several failed 
attempts by the Ministry of Education to get the teachers back to 
work, President Gbagbo intervened and met with the teachers' unions 
on March 13.  Gbagbo promised to address the teachers' demands 
following the IFI's approval of budget support to the GOCI, 
anticipated by the end of March.  On this promise, the teachers 
returned to work.  Meanwhile, parents and students have expressed 
concern and skepticism about what they call "temporary solutions" to 
strikes and other disruptions in the education system.  End 
Summary. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
2.  (U) Late last year, four teachers' unions in Cote d'Ivoire 
called for all secondary school teachers to stop teaching until the 
GOCI honored commitments it made in a Memorandum of Understanding 
that was signed over a year ago, to change the status and salary 
structures of secondary school teachers.  For one week in January 
2009 the teachers stopped teaching to bring government's attention 
to their demands.  However, according to officials of the lead 
teacher's union, Syndicat National des Enseignants du Second Degre 
de Cote d'Ivoire (SYNESCI), the government ignored them completely. 
Because of GOCI inaction, SYNESCI leaders announced a full strike to 
begin on March 2. 
 
3.  (U) On March 1, the Minister of National Education, Gilbert 
Bleu-Laine, went on television to talk to the teachers, asking for 
patience while he sought additional funding  However, the next day, 
the leader of SYNESCI, Mr. Paul Gnelou, responded in the papers that 
the Minister's statement was not convincing.  He announced that the 
strike would go on as scheduled and last until the GOCI met their 
demands.  These demands included better salaries and working 
conditions; assurance that all salaries for teachers on strike and 
those withholding grades would be reinstated; and assurance that the 
GOCI would not take any retaliatory measures against striking 
teachers.  (Note: About two hundred striking teachers were arrested 
and detained on March 10. End note.) 
 
THE PRESIDENT'S PROMISE 
----------------------- 
 
4.  (U) During his March 13 meeting with leaders of the teachers' 
unions, President Gbagbo promised that when the IMF/World Bank 
approved budget support for GOCI, the teachers' demands would be 
addressed.  Subsequently, the detained teachers were released.  The 
IMF/World Bank's approval of significant budget support ($150 
million) for the GOCI came through as expected at the end of March 
and should enable the GOCI to inject needed funds into health, 
education and rural development.  In fact, in its new program with 
the IMF, the GOCI has agreed to increase spending to address poverty 
and other social issues, including expenditures on health and 
education, from 6.9 percent of GDP in 2008 to 7.7 percent of GDP (an 
increase of approximately USD 160 million) in 2009.  But, it is 
unlikely, without reforms, that a short-term cash infusion will 
provide a lasting solution to recurring teacher strikes. 
 
5. (U) There is widespread concern among parents about the teacher 
strikes and the resulting degradation in education.  Cote d'Ivoire 
once boasted one of the best school systems in West Africa, and some 
parents are concerned that they may need to send their children 
outside of the country for quality schooling.  But given the high 
cost, it is not a choice that most people can make. 
 
STRIKES AND OTHER DISRUPTIONS 
----------------------------- 
 
6.  (U) In recent months, workers in several sectors of the Ivorian 
economy have gone on strike.  A recent strike by medical doctors, 
which left the majority of the population with very little medical 
care for over two weeks, just ended.  Education is constantly 
interrupted by striking teachers, as well as striking students. 
Strikes by the latter often include acts of violence by the 
Federation Estudantine et Scolaire de Cote d'Ivoire (FESCI) -- the 
Student Union of Cote d'Ivoire.  Since January 5, some schools in 
Abidjan and Daloa have been closed due to incidents related to 
dissension among FESCI members and FESCI's refusal to allow other 
student groups to operate within the schools. 
 
7.  (U) In June of last year, teachers in 145 private secondary 
schools voted to strike to claim nine months' back pay. (Note: The 
government is responsible for partial payment of teachers for 
students it allocates to the private schools.  End note.) 
Separately, volunteer teachers in areas under the Forces Nouvelles 
(the former rebels) went on strike in September 2008 to draw 
attention to their demands to be officially absorbed as part of the 
Ministry of Education.  In November 2008 secondary school teachers 
withheld students' grades to further protest the GOCI's inaction 
regarding their demands for better pay and working conditions. 
 
Comment 
------ 
 
8.  (U) Although the current strike has ended, many believe that it 
is unlikely there will be a more permanent solution to the incessant 
strikes in the education sector any time soon.  This is a challenge 
to normalizing life in Cote d'Ivoire as a result of the political 
crisis, particularly in the northern part of the country where many 
schools were closed from 2002 to the end of 2007.  Not only are 
strikes an issue, but there is also a paucity of classroom space and 
teaching materials, especially in the rural areas. The underlying 
problem is the simple fact that government has taken virtually no 
action to keep the school system viable since the crisis hit in 
2002, while the school-age population has ballooned and the 
education system infrastructure has deteriorated.  Gbagbo's 
intervention to resolve the strike is a recurring pattern used by 
the government to restore calm and does not necessarily attest to 
his popularity, but rather to the respect that Ivoirians still give 
to the Presidency.  Sooner or later, however, his promises must be 
kept.  End Comment. 
 
 
NESBITT