Rebel activity halts exams for hundreds of children - Child rights activists called for a truce in eastern and northeastern Congo
June 25th, 2009
DRC: Rebel activity halts exams for hundreds of children
KINSHASA, - Rebel activity in parts of eastern and northeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has forced the postponement of secondary school leaving exams for hundreds of children, officials have said. At least 403,000 students nationally are expected to sit the exams.
Photo: David Hecht/IRIN 
Child rights activists called for a truce in eastern and northeastern Congo to allow the children to take their exams - file photo
"The state examination is taking place in the rest of the country except in the territories of Dungu and Faradje where LRA [Lord's Resistance Army] attacks against civilians have interfered with the situation," Education Minister Maker Muangu said. He said the exam will be organised in Dungu and Faradje territories on 12-15 August, with a new set of questions being prepared.
The northeast region has been hit by a spate of attacks against civilians by the Ugandan rebel LRA since late 2008. Hundreds of people have died and thousands been displaced.
In North Kivu Province, the situation is similar especially in Masisi and Walikale territories. Students going to school have often found their movement blocked by various militia groups, including the Rwandan Hutu Forces pour la liberation du Rwanda (FDLR).
"Many students in Masisi and Walikale are not able to cross the insecure areas to reach the examination centres," Muti Matonda, head of the primary and secondary school division in Masisi, told UN-operated Radio Okapi.
The FDLR, comprising perpetrators of the 1994 Rwandan genocide, has since January launched several attacks against the population in North and South Kivu provinces in retaliation for local and regional offensives designed to oust it.
Blocked
Photo: Hugo Rami/IRIN 
School children in the DRC: Rebel activity in parts of eastern and northeastern Congo has forced the postponement of secondary school leaving exams for hundreds of children, according to officials - file photo
"Some students... have been blocked [by fighting] such as in the villages of Lwibo and Kinyahombo and are not able to cross Nyabiondo sector, where fighting is going on between the FARDC [the government army], Mayi-Mayi and the l’Alliance des patriotes pour une Congo libre et souverain [militia]," Matonda said.
A student was hit by a bullet during recent fighting in Nyabiondo, he said.
Child rights activists called for a truce in the region to allow the children to take their exams, saying their rights should be respected.
"It is our children's future that is at stake... and the children are not just Congolese, they are also Rwandans and Ugandans," said Remi Mafu, coordinator of the child and youth rights NGO network.
"We should let them sit this test and obtain their certificates."
ei/aw/cb source.www.irinnews.org