Last week, some of the teachers in the province of South Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) started teaching again. They had been on strike for more than two months.

Even though they suspended the strike movement, the government has not yet accepted their grievance : the salary of 500 USD per teacher per month.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The majority of children are happy to return to school, noted an SOS Médias Burundi reporter. The reason is that they had never been admitted to class after the 2024-2025 school year last September. However, their fellows from private schools never suspended classes.

Romain Ishala is among the children who have returned to school.

« I am very happy to go back to school, we have been staying at home for many months, » he said.

In addition to the salary of 500 USD per teacher per month that the teachers demanded, they also ask Congolese authorities to establish clear policies on supporting retirees, the granting of salaries to new teachers in particular.

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Pupils in a public school in Uvira in the province of South Kivu (SOS Médias Burundi)