Ebola in Congo Devastates Children's Education as New School Year Begins

The eastern Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with a dual crisis as the new school year began on September 1: the ongoing Ebola outbreak, which has killed more than 3,000 people and infected over 6,250, is now severely disrupting children's education across the affected region. Families already struggling under the weight of the epidemic face additional hardship as the academic year opens. Many parents cannot afford basic school supplies — a burden that was already difficult before Ebola upended local economies and claimed breadwinners. For households that have lost members to the disease, the financial strain of sending children to school has become insurmountable. In response to the crisis, the Congolese government has introduced radio-based distance learning as an alternative to in-person schooling in the worst-affected zones, aiming to ensure children do not fall further behind academically while physical schools remain too dangerous or inaccessible. However, teachers and education experts are deeply skeptical. Many families in remote areas lack radios or reliable electricity. Some parents are illiterate and cannot support their children's learning at home. Signal coverage remains patchy across the forested, mountainous terrain of eastern Congo. Médecins Sans Frontières and other organizations warn that Ebola's impact on children extends far beyond the immediate health emergency — affecting nutrition, mental health, protection from abuse, and long-term development. With the outbreak showing no signs of rapid resolution, education authorities fear an entire generation risks falling permanently behind.