Title: Police occupation at the Manika Technical Institute in Kolwezi: students deprived of lessons and their learning environment
Introduction :
Since the end of the Christmas holidays, students at the Manika Technical Institute in Kolwezi have been deprived of classes due to the occupation of their classrooms by a police unit, deployed to ensure security after the election on 20 December 2023. This situation has caused indignation among parents and civil society, who are calling for the police to be moved in order to allow the resumption of school activities in optimal conditions.
Lack of respect towards the school establishment:
According to Father Benoît Mukwanga, executive secretary of the network of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Catholic Church, the police not only occupied the classrooms, but they also used the benches as firewood and the classrooms as sanitary facilities. This disrespectful attitude towards the school establishment led to the closure of the school, thus depriving students of their learning environment.
The impact on students and their families:
Parents and civil society express their indignation at this situation. The area around the school has become unlivable due to the presence of police, raising concerns about the safety and well-being of students. In addition, this occupation disrupts the school calendar, thus compromising the education of students and their future.
Civil society actions:
Lualaba civil society is asking the competent authorities to move the police elsewhere in order to allow classes to resume in optimal conditions. Chadrac Mukad, Lualaba civil society coordinator, underlines the urgency of the situation and insists on the need to clean and sanitize the environment before students can return to school.
Measures taken by the authorities:
According to a source from the Lualaba provincial government, the first group of police officers has already left the school facilities and the second group is expected to follow them soon. They will be housed in a barracks set up by the Lualaba provincial executive. The authorities are also committed to cleaning up the school environment in order to allow students to resume their school activities.
Conclusion :
The police occupation of the Manika Technical Institute in Kolwezi has had negative consequences on the students, their families and the proper functioning of the school. Parents and civil society are calling for the police to be moved to allow classes to resume in optimal conditions. Let us hope that the authorities will quickly take the necessary measures so that students can return to their learning environment and continue their education peacefully.