Basic Education Minister Makes Surprise Foni Visit to Address Teachers’ Strike
By Fatoumata Jaiteh
In a decisive move to address the ongoing teachers’ strike in Region Two East, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Dr Habibatou Drammeh, conducted an unannounced inspection of schools affected on Thursday, 29th January 2026.
The minister, accompanied by the Regional Education Director, Mr Ebrima Saidy, and senior MoBSE officials, visited seven schools across three clusters in Foni, where classes have remained largely suspended due to the sit-down strike by educators who walked out of classrooms in protest over withheld allowance payments.
According to MoBSE, teachers in several schools had previously been receiving what they referred to as the so-called “double shift” allowance. However, the Ministry clarified that this designation was inaccurate, as not all recipients were engaged in genuine double-shift teaching, prompting intervention by the Ministry of Finance.
During engagements with teachers on the ground, Dr Drammeh acknowledged the disruption caused by the strike but underscored the need for clarity and reform in the allowance system. “We hold our teachers in high regard. Their welfare remains a priority,” she told teachers, urging them to return to work.
According to MoBSE’s official press release issued on 28th January 2026, the discrepancies in the allowance payments were identified after a review of records, prompting corrective steps. The Ministry said it engaged with relevant stakeholders, including the Gambia Teachers’ Union (GTU) and the Ministry of Public Service, to address the anomaly.
As part of that process, the controversial “double shift” allowance has been rebranded the “Special Duty Allowance,” a framework designed specifically to reflect the unique conditions and security challenges faced by teachers in Region Two East. Dr. Drammeh assured her audience that the allowance will be reinstated under this new designation.
She also announced that the government has committed to settling three months of arrears for October, November, and December once the necessary financial procedures are completed, adding that allowances for January have already been paid. “Efforts are ongoing to process a drawback for the remaining three months,” she stated.
In the Ministry’s press statement, MoBSE addressed broader concerns around the walkout, noting that some teachers abandoned their posts while the clarification and correction process was ongoing. “It is unfortunate that while we are clarifying and correcting the anomalies, a group of teachers decided to strike and discourage colleagues from reporting to school,” the release stated.
MoBSE also issued a stern call for teachers to resume classroom duties without delay, warning that insubordination would not be tolerated and that disciplinary actions could follow for organisers of the strike. “We strongly urge teachers who abandoned their classes today to return to their classrooms to avoid facing the consequences of their actions,” the statement read.
