DRC: Ebola fears grow as children return to school
Schools in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are reopening amid the country's largest recorded Ebola outbreak. Parents and teachers have expressed significant concern regarding the safety of children and the potential for schools to accelerate the spread of the virus.
Why it matters
The intersection of public health crises and education access poses a major challenge for regional stability and child welfare in the DRC.
Parents fear school could fuel Ebola spread as authorities shift high-risk pupils to home learning.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Pupils attend classes in Goma, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as the country begins a new school year amid an Ebola outbreak [Prosper Heri/Al Jazeera] By Prosper Heri Ngorora Published On 1 Sep 2026 1 Sep 2026 Goma, DR Congo – Children across the Democratic Republic of the Congo are returning to school on Tuesday as the country battles its largest Ebola outbreak on record, prompting concern among parents and teachers in the worst-hit province of Ituri.
Government figures showed 6,041 confirmed cases and 2,911 deaths as of August 31, surpassing the previous worst outbreak, which ran from 2018 to 2020.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in