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Negotiations continue to find a solution to the impasse since the Malian bishops decided on July 30 to suspend educational activities in all Catholic schools from October 1, 2024 and announced an end to state subsidies. While potential solutions are being explored at the government level, the future of Mali’s Catholic schools remains uncertain as the new school year begins.
On Monday, August 19, a restricted cabinet meeting was held, chaired by the Prime Minister, to assess the solution and submit it to the Transitional President, who would then “announce it and undertake it”.
“We have an obligation to find a solution, otherwise the transitional president will be directly affected by a technical problem, but it will turn out to be a political problem,” said Choguel Kokalla Maïga in his opening speech, during which he discussed in detail the current situation of Catholic schools during a restricted cabinet meeting.
The state pays 80% of Catholic school teachers’ salaries under an agreement tied to the church since 1972. But in recent years, the accumulated unpaid amounts of these subsidies have led to a crisis within Catholic private education.
“The reality is that there are economic and financial problems and the sums that the State has to pay are growing exponentially. With the country at war, resources becoming increasingly scarce and donors becoming increasingly scarce, there are obviously legitimate concerns in terms of finances. We are forced to prioritize security, which is above all else,” the Head of Government explained, while assuring that the Transitional President will take a political decision in the coming days that is in the best interests of Mali and will “ensure that the future of Mali’s children is not compromised”.
In addition to the economic difficulties that justify the state’s decision to suspend subsidies to Catholic schools, the prime minister also highlighted issues related to state secularism. “We have a new constitution that provides for equal treatment of all religions and therefore strict secularism. Can the state subsidize schools of a certain faith without causing other problems?”, he pointed out.
Current negotiations
In addition to discussions at the government level, the National Transitional Council is also actively involved in this topic. The National Director of Private Catholic Education submitted a request for a hearing on August 13, 2024 to the Education, Culture, Information and Communication Technologies, Handicrafts and Tourism Commission of the National Transitional Council (CNT), which received it on Monday, August 19, the Commission.
On the same day, the National Union of Catholic Educators (SYNTEC) and the President of the Bishops’ Conference of Mali also attended the committee’s hearing.
We understand that on Tuesday, August 20, it is the turn of the Minister of Economy and Finance, while the Minister of National Education, who was scheduled to appear before the committee on the same date, has been postponed to August 29.
Therefore, the final measures decided at the highest level of the state may not be announced before this date. Meanwhile, not only are more than 1,613 Catholic school teachers threatened with dismissal, but parents of students whose children attend these schools are also growing increasingly concerned.
Mohammed Kenuwi
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