Insecurity Paralyzes Schools in Masisi I During First Term

Masisi, North Kivu, January 3, 2026 - Several schools in the Masisi I subdivision of North Kivu faced serious operational disruptions during the first term of the 2025-2026 school year, as persistent insecurity severely affected teaching and learning conditions. While some schools managed to relocate in order to continue their activities, others saw their operations completely paralyzed. Luc Nyamulinduka, head of the Masisi I subdivision of the Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), paid tribute to the resilience and courage of both students and teachers amid the ongoing violence. “Having to interrupt classes at the slightest sound of gunfire, or even move entire schools in an attempt to continue activities elsewhere-this has been the ordeal faced by students in Masisi during this first term,” he said. According to Nyamulinduka, several schools located along the Buabo road were transferred to Masisi-Centre, a relatively safer area, where they were able to complete the term without major difficulties. However, the situation remained precarious in other localities. In Nyabiondo, classes were repeatedly interrupted by gunfire, forcing schools to suspend and later resume activities. Along the Burora road, disruptions were more severe: although classes initially started, they could not be completed due to ongoing insecurity. The education official indicated that in areas where calm has returned, particularly in Buabo, schools are expected to resume classes in their usual locations. He also announced the deployment of school inspectors to assist teachers in recovering lost learning time. Despite these measures, families continue to hope for a lasting return to peace, which remains the only guarantee of a normal school year. The head of the subdivision expressed concern over the incomplete school calendar and the mass displacement of students caused by the fighting, warning of its long-term impact on education in the region.