The Congolese government is preparing a multimodal scheme to ensure continuity of learning for displaced children. For the officials, it’s a mean to face the humanitarian and educational crisis caused by the war in the east of the country.
At a press briefing on Tuesday, Raïssa Malu, Minister of State for National Education and New Citizenship, announced the introduction of distance learning, in collaboration with financial and humanitarian partners.
« We’re going to set up a multimodal system, a special session to save education. The priority now is to define what is essential. The psychosocial aspect of the children will also be taken into account », she declared.
More than 2,500 schools are closed in North and South Kivu, due to clashes between the Rwandan-backed M23 rebels and the FARDC. In Goma, the situation is particularly critical: thousands of pupils are deprived of education, while school infrastructures have been destroyed or turned into shelters for the displaced.
Beyond the buildings, it’s the psychological impact that worries the Minister most.
« The most important thing is the child, the pupil. In their minds, this impact is much more serious than a destroyed school. I would like us all to be aware that this is a double crime », said Raissa Malu.
The Congolese government, in collaboration with international partners, looks mobilized to guarantee an emergency educational response, so that war does not deprive a whole generation of children of their future.
Infos.cd
