Congolese students in Rutshuru, North Kivu province are scheduled to return to school almost one year after fighting between the M23 rebels and government forces forced schools to close.
According to details obtained by Taarifa political desk, the teachers’ union of Congo, SYECO in the region of Binza has confirmed the schools re-opening.
This decision was reached at during a meeting of teachers from this region held Sunday in Nyamilima.
In a statement read to the press, SYECO-Binza reaffirmed its availability for the 2023-2024 school year.
However, it made some recommendations to the government and educational partners.
“In order to assess the possibility of a peaceful return to school in the sub-division of EPST Rutshuru 4, we have decided the following: to return to school from Monday, September 4, teachers who are on the move to return to their workplaces to save the education of our children,” reads their statement.
Since the resurgence of insecurity in the region, several schools had closed their doors about a year ago.
In June 2022, the M23 captured the town of Bunagana in Rutshuru Territory and began marching toward Goma. Rebels then took control of several localities along the roads connecting Goma to the north and the west.
The M23 was seeking to pressure the government to honour a peace agreement signed in 2013, which allows the reintegration of the armed forces into society, among other issues.
The M23 has repeatedly asked for direct dialogue with DRC authorities, which have so far refused.
