Guinea education unions threaten strikes over teacher recruitment dispute

Tensions are rising in Guinea ahead of the scheduled school reopening on October 5, 2026, as education unions threaten strikes over teacher recruitment disputes. The Intersyndicale de l’Éducation, comprising the SLECG, SNE, and FSPE, is protesting the government's decision to hold a competitive recruitment exam for 6,000 new teachers.

The unions argue that this move violates a protocol signed in January 2026. They contend that approximately 4,400 community contract teachers who passed their practical evaluations should be prioritized for direct employment rather than being forced to sit for a new exam.

The government maintains that the protocol does not guarantee automatic integration into the civil service. Authorities argue that the agreement specifies these teachers should receive priority during the registration process for upcoming exams, rather than being exempt from the competitive testing process itself.