M23 Rebels Reinstate School Fees in Goma, Disrupting Education in DRC

Reinstatement of School Fees in Goma

• 📌 In Goma, a city controlled by M23 rebels, school fees have been reinstated after years of free education.
• 💸 Parents are now required to pay between $3 and $15 per child, a significant burden for families struggling to afford basic necessities like food and shoes.
• 😟 This measure threatens the education of many children, with some parents fearing their children may not be able to complete the school year.

Teacher Salaries and Banking Disruptions

• 💰 Teachers in M23-controlled areas are no longer receiving salaries from the state due to the closure of banks in Goma following the rebel capture.
• 🤝 The reinstated school fees are intended to help pay teachers, a measure supported by labor unions as a way to provide teachers with a small bonus.

Government Response and Broader Conflict

• 📱 The Congolese government in Kinshasa is attempting to facilitate online payments via mobile phones for teachers in rebel-occupied territories, aiming for greater digitization.
• ⚠️ However, thousands of children in eastern Congo remain deprived of schooling due to ongoing fighting between the M23 rebels (backed by Rwanda) and the Congolese army (backed by local armed groups).