In the violence laden Ituri Province of northeast Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), dedicated teachers in camps for the internally displaced have come together to start a school for children who are missing out on formal education.
Saint Luc Primary School, located in Bunia City, is no ordinary institution; it serves as a lifeline for many learners forced out of their classrooms due to ongoing conflict in the region. The school provides free education for 1,148 students, offering them a chance to rebuild their lives.
It was set up by a few teachers who live in the displacement camp.
"These teachers feel an obligation to teach because they have all studied pedagogy. Not everyone has to go begging on the streets. They come to school because they want to take care of the displaced children who have ended up on the streets of Bunia," said Loti Manje Banoit, the school principal.
Parents at the refugee camp recognize the importance of education for their children.
"This school is very important in this Kigonze site because it supervises our children, it keeps our children busy instead of them having the idea of going to wander around the neighborhoods of Bunia," said Lokana Malo Samuel, parent of four students.
Despite its significance, the school faces many challenges, and displaced parents find themselves unable to offer any help.
"We regret that it is too small to accommodate all our children. We feel bad because the students and teachers are all displaced, we do not have the means to support the teachers. We ourselves have difficulty taking care of our children because of our financial situation,”said Samuel.
With just six classrooms and 15 volunteer teachers, the school is struggling to meet the growing demand for education in the camp.
"Our big problem is the lack of classrooms because we have other children who remain at the site without being at school," Banoit stressed.
The school is now appealing to the government for assistance to expand the facility, and have the teachers paid by the education ministry.
The Kigonze displacement site is home to more than 20,000 children aged below 18, yet less than 10 percent are enrolled in school. The hope for many parents is that the capacity of the school will be improved in order to secure a brighter future for their children.
Teachers open free school for displaced children in DR Congo
