A recent statement by the interim Minister of National Education, likening the payment of teaching stipends (vacations) to a "little Christmas gift," has sparked a wave of indignation across the educational sector. Among the most critical voices is that of Alain Mouagouadi, an educational advisor, who denounces the normalization of teacher precariousness and calls for urgent structural reforms.

LIBREVILLE – The media appearance of the interim Minister of National Education, Simplice Désiré Mamboula, continues to cause an uproar. By describing the upcoming payment of teaching stipends as a "little Christmas gift," the government official has reignited a deep-seated malaise within a teaching corps already strained by years of administrative delays and unkept promises.

In a reaction posted on social media on December 12, Alain Mouagouadi, an educational advisor and committed stakeholder in the education sector, strongly condemned a communication style he considers "inappropriate and disconnected from the realities on the ground." According to him, presenting these stipends as a favor reveals a lack of understanding—or even a dismissal—of the daily struggles teachers face. "This is not a gift; it is a debt owed," he asserted, reminding the public that these payments are often made several years late.

Beyond the delivery, Alain Mouagouadi points to a deeper issue: administrative precariousness has become the norm within National Education. Blocked files, unpaid back-pay, and frozen careers are all malfunctions that, in his view, reflect fifteen years of inaction and accumulated injustices. This context further weakens a sector already under immense pressure.

The educational advocate also addressed the introduction of the Competency-Based Approach (CBA) in middle schools, which he believes was implemented without sufficient preparation. "We reform without training; we demand without providing the means," he lamented, seeing this situation as an illustration of governance far removed from classroom realities. In this regard, he recalled that Law 1/2005, governing the general status of the civil service, clearly defines the State’s obligations toward its employees.

For Alain Mouagouadi, the current controversy extends far beyond the issue of stipends. It reveals a system in which State employees work without guarantees of regular pay or clear career prospects. This situation is particularly concerning given that the political transition had raised hopes for a change in practices.

"Many teachers today have the bitter feeling that nothing has truly changed," he regretted, calling on the authorities to prioritize listening, appeasement, and, above all, concrete reforms. In his view, restoring trust between the State and teachers requires respect for acquired rights and more responsible educational governance.