Ebola Fear and Disinformation Empty Schools in Eastern Congo

Fear of Ebola and widespread misinformation are causing school closures and disrupting education in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Teachers, parents, and students report that classrooms are emptying and exams are being altered due to the outbreak, which was declared on May 15.

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When the children heard about this disease, they were afraid because they thought it was something invented and that they shouldn't even come to school.

Save The Children, a child advocacy NGO, is implementing an initiative using puppets, songs, and games to educate young children about Ebola prevention and combat disinformation. This program is running as the DRC faces its third-worst Ebola outbreak in history, with over 1,003 confirmed cases and 254 deaths, including at least 26 children.

In some communities in the Ituri province, the epidemic's epicenter, rumors have spread rapidly. Alfred, a 40-year-old teacher (name changed for anonymity), explained that children were afraid to come to school because they believed rumors about vaccinations. "They said that when someone arrives at the hospital, instead of receiving medicine, they are injected with water, and that is what kills them," he said, describing how false information circulates through informal conversations and social media, often referred to as 'battery-less radios'.

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There were rumors that children would be vaccinated in schools. Many stopped coming to class. Some even hid in the bushes to avoid attending.

Students are also expressing fear. Alice, a 13-year-old aspiring doctor (name changed for anonymity), shared her anxiety about the death toll from Ebola. "Children cannot go to school because of the disease. When I hear what people say, they say many have died from Ebola. They tell us to protect ourselves and keep our distance. That scares me a lot," she stated. Despite the reality of the epidemic, some neighbors continue to deny its existence, calling it a lie.

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They say that when someone arrives at the hospital, instead of receiving medicine, they are injected with water, and that is what kills them.

The ongoing epidemic poses a significant threat to the educational future of thousands of minors, with families expressing deep concern about the long-term impact on their children's schooling.

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The children cannot go to school because of the disease. When I hear what people say, they say many have died from Ebola. They tell us to protect ourselves and keep our distance. That scares me a lot.