Violent confrontation between ITI/ISPT Gombe students and teachers
A tense and explosive situation broke out this Monday at the Gombe Industrial Technical Institute (ITI/Gombe) in Kinshasa. Violent clashes occurred between students of the Higher Educational and Technical Institute (ISPT) and teachers of ITI, supported by some of their students. The police had to intervene by using warning shots to prevent a physical confrontation.
According to sources, this conflict between ISPT students and ITI teachers is in reality the result of a dispute that has been going on for some time. It all started last Saturday, when ISPT students, accompanied by young delinquents armed with knives, ransacked the building where ITI teachers reside. They looted and vandalized the premises, taking with them valuable goods and diplomas.
This Monday morning, the tension was palpable as ISPT students tried to prevent ITI students from accessing their establishment. The parents of students present on site were caught off guard by this chaos and quickly evacuated their children from the school. The police intervened by firing shots into the air to disperse the crowds and keep the situation under control. However, some ITI students, in solidarity with their teachers, showed a desire to confront the ISPT students.
This conflict has its origins in the sharing of the site between the two institutions. The ITI, created in 1952, initially occupied the entire space before the ISPT established itself in part of the site. Since then, tensions have persisted with accusations of encroachment on both sides. In recent times, the ITI teachers’ residence is said to be the object of covetousness on the part of ISPT students.
Faced with this escalation of violence, Colonel Hugo Mundele Ngolo, commander of the Gombe urban police station, urges the authorities to quickly find a solution before the situation degenerates further. Parents are also worried about the safety of their children and are calling on the authorities to intervene to put a definitive end to this conflict.
After today’s events, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education to address this issue and seek appropriate solutions.
In conclusion, the violence that erupted between ISPT students and ITI teachers is a reflection of a conflict that has persisted for some time. It is essential that authorities quickly find a peaceful resolution to ensure the safety of students and restore an environment conducive to learning. Open mediation and dialogue between the parties involved is essential to achieve a long-term solution.