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DR Congo to start school year with distance learning in Ebola-hit areas
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Culture & Society

DR Congo to start school year with distance learning in Ebola-hit areas

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Context piece
  • The Democratic Republic of Congo will proceed with the school year starting September 1 but will implement a differentiated return to school in Ebola-affected areas.
  • Education will be delivered remotely via printed materials and local radio broadcasts in high-risk zones, while normal classes resume in green zones and controlled orange zones with enhanced prevention measures.
  • This measure aims to keep children engaged at home and focused on essential knowledge, with remote learners eligible to continue their academic path and take state certification tests.

The Democratic Republic of Congo will open its school year on September 1, but with a "differentiated" approach for areas most affected by the Ebola outbreak. The government announced that education in high-risk zones will shift to distance learning, utilizing printed worksheets and local radio broadcasts.

The return to school will take place on September 1, but in a different way.

— Raïssa MaluCongolese Minister of National Education explaining the differentiated approach to the school year.

Minister of National Education Raïssa Malu explained that out of 138 educational subdivisions in Ebola-affected provinces, 40 are directly impacted, with 18 classified as "high risk." These "red zones" will implement a distance learning system, distinct from online or internet-based education, requiring no internet access or equipment for families. The system will distribute "pedagogical sheets" with essential knowledge, collected by parents every two weeks.

"Green zones," with no Ebola cases, will see normal classes. "Orange zones," affected but under control, will maintain in-person classes with reinforced prevention measures like hygiene and sanitary kits. Schools in high-risk areas will remain open as "educational service and support points" to maintain contact with students and families.

When I speak of distance learning, one should not understand online or internet teaching.

— Raïssa MaluThe minister clarified the nature of the distance learning system to emphasize its low-tech accessibility.

The plan is initially set for four weeks, subject to evaluation with the Ministry of Health based on the epidemic's evolution. The current Ebola outbreak is the second deadliest in history and the worst recorded in the Congo, with over 2,325 deaths and 4,945 confirmed cases.

The objective is to keep the child active at home, not disconnect them from school and focus on essential knowledge.

— Raïssa MaluThe minister outlined the goals of the distance learning program.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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