Reaction

Prof. Mike Yanou

Reaction:

You just ended a seminar with representatives of the administration of universities and lecturers. What was the objective of the seminar?

We wanted University lecturers to understand the basic dynamics for dialogue; we wanted them to ensure that whenever there is a crisis within the university community they should be able to dialogue. We want teachers of universities to always resort to dialogue and not strikes, and for the university administration to know that dialogue is strength and not a weakness. We want our colleagues to inculcate the values of conciliation rather than rush into crisis. We also expect the university administration to see the need to talk with their colleagues of the trade unions because talking is not weakness but strength.


Lecturers are also complaining of non-payment of their special research and development allowance. Do you expect them to also dialogue on this?

It is the government’s desire to pay the research modernization allowance. But you know there are many other things the government has to do – Health, security, stabilizing the economy etc. All these things are done according to the viability of the state treasury at a given time. Like the minister said, the research allowances would be paid and in good time. He asked the lecturers to be a little patient and wait for that time to come. And I should point out here that ever since the research allowance was instituted in 2009, there has not been a year that it was not paid. That is why I share the minister’s opinion that lecturers should go back to class and wait for the money to be ready.