Kinama-Bwagiriza : schools in danger in Congolese refugee camps

The refugee camps of Kinama in Muyinga province in northeastern Burundi and Bwagiriza in Ruyigi province (east) are home to more than 15,000 Congolese refugees fleeing insecurity in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo. While some school blocks have durable infrastructure that meets standards, others, built of planks with sheet metal roofs, remain precarious and expose pupils to difficult learning conditions, especially during the rainy season.

INFO SOS Médias Burundi

The contrast is striking between school blocks built of durable materials and those still made of planks. While some pupils benefit from solid and clean classrooms, others are forced to study in precarious environments.

Parents of pupils living in plank blocks express concern over the fragility of the buildings, especially during the rainy season.

A mother of two children at Kinama Camp Primary School says, “I am very worried about my children’s health. When it rains, water seeps under the planks, and they often get wet. I am afraid they will get sick because of this. Also, these plank structures do not seem safe when the wind blows hard.”

“These schools are not reliable. The wind blows hard here, and I am afraid the roof will blow off. Our children deserve to learn in a safe environment. Plank blocks are a source of stress for us parents,” laments a father of a 10-year-old.

Pupils studying in plank blocks also share their experiences.

Yvette, 12 years old, says, “When the wind blows, I am afraid that the roof will fly away. Sometimes, we have to stop classes because of the noise. It is difficult to concentrate. I wish our school was more solid.”

Maonesho, for his part, talks about problems related to bad weather. “When it rains, water gets under the boards and wets my books. I cannot study well. I often feel cold, and it makes me sick. I dream of a school where I can learn without worries,” says the 11-year-old boy.

Samuel, who recently celebrated his 11th birthday in Bwagiriza camp, explains that “the winds are strong and sometimes the roofs make noise. This prevents us from hearing our teacher. I am afraid that our classroom will collapse one day because of heavy rains or termites that eat the wood.”

Teachers assigned to these blocks also express their concerns.

“It is difficult to teach in these conditions. We do our best, but the environment is an obstacle,” says an educator in Kinama.

A refugee representative from these two camps underlines the urgency of the situation. He calls on the UNHCR and its partners to take action to improve school infrastructure. “Children need an environment conducive to learning.”

Education is a fundamental right that must be accessible to all, regardless of circumstances. “This commitment must translate into concrete and sustainable actions,” says a refugee intellectual.

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Plank blocks at the Kinama camp in northeastern Burundi (SOS Médias Burundi)