Teachers at public primary schools in the city of Goma, in the North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have recently intensified their strike action. This strike was launched on September 4, as a sign of protest against the unkept promises concerning the establishment of free education by President Félix Tshisekedi.
According to Sophie Valinandi, teachers’ spokesperson, this strike follows the poor working conditions that teachers in Goma and the North Kivu province have faced since the introduction of free education. She declares: “Today, he has been waiting for four years for unfulfillable promises. And if the promises have been fulfilled, it is really a percentage to be minimized.”
However, the national union force of teachers in North Kivu (FOSYNAT) denounces this strike movement and believes that it only concerns five schools which refuse to work. She asks the competent authorities to replace these teachers with those who are ready to work.
Faced with this situation, Guel Mamlaka, president of the youth parliament of North Kivu, calls on the teachers concerned to suspend their strike action so as not to harm the students. He stresses that children must not be taken hostage in this conflict and pleads for the strike to be suspended so that children can begin their school year.
Since the establishment of free education in 2019, numerous strike movements have been observed across the country, highlighting the difficulties Congolese teachers face. This situation highlights the urgency for the government to take concrete measures to improve the working conditions and salaries of teachers, in order to guarantee quality education for all Congolese students.
It is important to find lasting solutions to address the concerns of teachers and guarantee quality education for all children in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This requires attentive listening to teachers’ demands and concrete actions aimed at improving their professional situation. Only solid and quality education can lead to a better future for the country’s children.