Hundreds of teachers in Mauritania on Wednesday hit the streets to demand the removal of the education minister Mohamed Melainine Ould Eyih. According to the teachers, the minister disrespected them by making remarks they described as insulting.

The teachers rallied in front of the presidential palace in the capital, Nouakchott, during a cabinet meeting and raised banners that demanded the dismissal of Ould Eyih. 

While the government has not yet commented about either the rally or the demand of the teachers, local media reported that last Saturday, the minister said an international group evaluated the education process in Mauritania and found only 4% of teachers had expertise.

While Ould Eyih did not deny or confirm that he made the comments, the country’s Education Ministry recently began a program to upgrade the efficiency and capacity of the 11,449 teachers in Mauritania.