Govt locks up all schools after students protest to support striking teachers

Togo has shut down all schools in the country, with the exception of universities, after massive students protest over incessant strikes by the teachers.

gathered that a large number of students had converged in Lome, the country's capital, demanding urgent action from the government.

Yahoo the protesting students urged authorities to meet the teachers' demands.

But the Togo government instead imposed a temporary shut-down of both private and public schools following the protest.

The demonstrations were "capable of endangering the security and lives of pupils, their teachers and the population," it claimed.

Seeking a pay rise for public sector workers, labour unions in the country's health and education sector have running battles with the government.

A union leader who spoke to AFP, Gilbert Tsolenyanou, said the stand-off will continue.

"We are not going to give up. We will fight to the last until our demands are met," Tsolenyanou said.

The government however says it will "continue talks with labour unions, with a view to bringing appropriate solutions to the situation to bring about a happy academic year".

Menwhile, the central labour body planned a new 72-hour strike for today.