Millions of students returned to school across the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday, but the new term began amid an Ebola outbreak affecting six provinces, a teachers’ strike call and continuing conflict in the east. In AFC/M23-controlled territories, the movement organised the return to classrooms even as Kinshasa continued to pay primary and secondary school teachers.
Across most of the Democratic Republic of Congo, schools were due to reopen for in-person classes on 1 September, with the government also reiterating that public primary education is free and urging school officials to comply with existing rules on fees.
