Teachers’ sit-in near the cabinet offices combining midday prayers with general update. The soldiers walking by were just coming back from Tahrir Square, where thousands were protesting the islamophobic film.

Guest blog by David Paenson in Cairo
15 September 2012

Politics meets Economics

Spent Friday afternoon with teachers’ picket in front of the education ministry. Their picket is only one among many up and down the country. Today will be their first actual national strike day.

Teachers are demanding 3000 Egyptian Pounds monthly salary (300 Pounds Sterling), fixed contracts, 25% increase in education budget, last monthly salary to count as pension, recognition of seniority, employment of qualified teachers, higher salaries for school workers and office staff, removal of all the highly paid und incompetent ministerial bureaucrats (who earn 50.000 EP up to even 700.000 EP), equal treatment of all state employees (policemen for instance got a rise without having to strike).

Basically similar to last year’s demands, to which the government turned a deaf ear.

The photo above shows the picket on the opposite side of the street combining midday prayers with general update. The soldiers walking by are just coming back from Tahrir Square, where thousands are protesting the islamophobic film produced in USA and Obama’s complete disinterest in doing anything against the racists.

Second photo shows Tahrir demonstrators walking up our street. When they reached our level they took up the teachers’ slogans, which gave us all a tremendous boost.

Third photo shows a young girl at Tahrir protesting against the film. The protest was angry but at the same time festive.