Ziguinchor, January 2 – (APS) – The Coordination of Students at the Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor (CE-UASZ, south), announced, Thursday, the suspension of its indefinite strike slogan decreed on November 22 to demand the completion of the construction of educational buildings and the receipt of social facilities.
Since November 22, the CE-UASZ has been on strike to demand the completion of work on twelve amphitheaters started since 2015, the reception of a 1000-bed pavilion and a restaurant “worthy of the name”.
“The Student Coordination of Assane Seck University in Ziguinchor calls on all students to join the lecture halls on Monday January 6, 2025. In a spirit of responsibility, we announce the suspension of the strike slogan, while remaining vigilant and ready to continue the fight if necessary,” she announced in a press release received by APS.
“We note with satisfaction some progress on our various points of demand, namely an acceleration in the construction of the production zone of the Diabir restaurant, a timid but effective resumption of work on the PGF-SUP sites with the reception of two positions of electrical transformers for the pavilion and the PGFSUP, the closure of Pavilion E in a state of disrepair,” welcomed the CE-UASZ.
She also welcomes, “the increase in the number of bunk beds in the pavilions to make up for the deficit, the renovation of a good part of the existing educational infrastructure with the installation of equipment and the final reception of the medical service while waiting for the installation of equipment”.
“The UASZ student coordination recognizes the progress made, which meets 50% of students’ expectations, and calls for its continuation to achieve complete satisfaction,” the statement added.
However, the text specifies, “the Coordination firmly rejects the imposition of single sessions, considering that they are detrimental to student success”.
“We reiterate our request for the return to two normal sessions with two resits, a crucial measure to guarantee a fair and effective academic evaluation,” argued the CE-UASZ.
Rejecting Single Sessions
She reports that in relation to the aforementioned demands, “steps were taken by a team of mediators to find a solution, and concrete proposals were submitted, nourishing the hope of positive results”.
In the same text, the CE-UASZ welcomed “the commitments of the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister, in particular the delivery of university infrastructures, the financing of research to the tune of 1.5% of GDP by 2030, and the systemic transformation of higher education”.
She calls on students to remain “solidarity and mobilized, remembering that their unity is essential to meet these challenges”.
Students at Assane Seck University in Ziguinchor declared an indefinite strike on November 22 to demand the completion of the construction of twelve amphitheaters undertaken since 2015, the reception of a 1,000-bed pavilion and a restaurant “worthy of this name.
They also organized demonstrations in the university area and on the main road leading there to demand better study conditions. These demonstrations led to clashes with the police.
Three rectorate vehicles were set on fire and students injured, noted the APS correspondent.
Consequently, the academic council of the Assane Seck University of Ziguinchor took the decision to close, “until further notice”, the educational campus, specifying that the measure did not concern the Kolda university center and the UFR 2S , who continue their teaching, favoring online courses.
The academic council of this university in southern Senegal, chaired by rector Alassane Diédhiou, had also decided to dissolve student associations, suspend their renewal activities and dissolve student coordination.
On December 12, this same academic council decided to resume teaching on Monday January 6, 2025 at Assane-Seck University in Ziguinchor.
He also made the decision to organize a single session for the 2023-2024 academic year, in particular for the UFR LASHUS, SES and ST.
Among the decisions taken at the end of its last meeting, was also the invalidation of the second semester 2023-2024, “if students do not return to classes until Monday January 13, 2025”.
MNF/MTN/ASG
