Congo Teachers, Parents Seek School Delay as Ebola Spreads

Teachers and parents in the heart of Congo's Ebola outbreak are asking the government to postpone the scheduled September 1 reopening of schools, arguing that classrooms remain unsafe while the virus continues to spread.

The appeal comes from Ituri province, the epicenter of an outbreak that Congolese health authorities say has produced 5,713 confirmed cases and 2,744 deaths. The World Health Organization has described the outbreak as out of control and the fastest-growing in the disease's history.

Children aged four and under have been hit hardest, with a case-fatality rate of 60 percent, according to available health data.

"We want to resume classes, but not at the cost of our lives," said Fazila Rebecca, a teacher in Bunia, the provincial capital. "As long as the disease is circulating and protective measures remain inadequate, returning to the classroom means taking a risk we cannot ignore."

The local teachers' union met Tuesday in Bunia and called on authorities to assess the situation before making a final decision. "We are not opposed to the resumption of classes, but we believe that the health and safety of teachers and students must be a priority," said Budju Lobo Isaac, a union representative.

Provincial authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The outbreak, declared in mid-May but believed to have been spreading since February, has expanded from three health zones to nearly 60. Most cases and deaths have occurred outside the network of monitored contacts, complicating containment efforts.

Fighting the disease has been made harder by the fact that the rare Bundibugyo virus causing it has no approved vaccines or treatments, though clinical trials have begun. Insecurity, displacement, a health workers' strike, and heavy population movement have further fueled transmission.

Government measures, including restrictions on public gatherings, social distancing rules, and airport closures, have disrupted daily life across six provinces. Health and sanitary equipment has been installed at some locations, but advocacy groups say more is needed to build community trust.

"Beyond the practical challenges, community acceptance remains critical," said Greg Ramm, director for Save the Children in Congo. "The immediate priority is to ensure that every school, teacher and family has the information and resources they need to make the start of the school year as safe as possible for children."

Parents are caught between the desire for normalcy and fear for their children's safety. Espérance Dz'venga, shopping for school supplies Wednesday at Bunia's central market, said she wants her children in school but worries about the risks.

"As a parent, I want to see my children in school, but — like many other parents — what I want most is for them to come home healthy," she said. "We are afraid that our children might be exposed at school and then bring the illness home."