Fatshimetrie – Teachers in public schools in Kindu, in the Maniema province of the Democratic Republic of Congo, have decided to radicalize their strike movement starting this Monday, September 23. This decision follows a general assembly organized on Sunday, September 22 in Kindu, during which teachers expressed their dissatisfaction with the current situation.
The cause is the amount of 50,000 Congolese francs added by the government to teachers’ salaries, which the latter consider insufficient and even describe as “sabotage”. They are thus demanding decent working conditions and a decent salary, essential to ensure the quality of education provided to the country’s children.
This radicalization of the strike movement legitimately worries parents of students who find themselves caught in a vice. On the one hand, teachers are calling for a boycott of public schools, and on the other, the need for parents to find expensive alternatives, such as private schools, to ensure the education of their children. A complex situation that raises legitimate questions about the accessibility of education for all, regardless of the socio-economic level of families.
Thus, this Monday, September 23, many students found themselves sent home, with public schools remaining closed in protest. This situation highlights the paradox between open private schools and paralyzed public schools, accentuating social inequalities in education.
It is urgent that the authorities find sustainable solutions to meet the legitimate demands of teachers, while ensuring the continuity of education for all children in Congo. Education is an essential pillar of a country’s development, and no child should be deprived of this fundamental right due to structural and financial problems. The mobilization of teachers reveals the crucial importance of valuing their work and offering them favorable conditions to exercise their profession, for the well-being of future generations.