DR Congo: School Year Begins Amid Insecurity and Family Hardship
Around 31 million pupils were expected to return to school on 1 September in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The reopening took place unevenly across regions, against a backdrop of insecurity, teachers’ strikes and health concerns linked to Ebola.
The school year began in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on 1 September in a mixed context. Around 31 million pupils were expected in schools across the country.
According to RFI, classes resumed in some localities, while others recorded low attendance. Insecurity, teachers’ strikes in certain areas and ongoing concerns over Ebola are among the factors affecting the start of the school year.
Multiple obstacles depending on the region
Conditions for the return to school vary from one region to another. Where schools were able to receive pupils, attendance was not uniform. In other areas, disruptions linked to insecurity and teachers’ strike action are complicating effective access to classes.
The cost of returning to school for households
Families’ economic difficulties are also an issue at the start of the school year. They affect both enrolment and the purchase of school supplies, as millions of pupils are expected in the Congolese education system.
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