Refugee Teachers in Congo Work Six Months Without Pay as Education System Collapses
Lusenda, 20 February 2026
More than 30,000 Burundian refugees at Lusenda camp face an education crisis as unpaid teachers abandon classrooms, forcing remaining pupils into overcrowded classes of 150 students each. The salary freeze, linked to UNHCR funding shortfalls, has pushed desperate educators into trading and farming to survive, whilst children consider dropping out entirely.
Teachers Abandon Classrooms as Financial Crisis Deepens
The education crisis at Lusenda camp in South Kivu province reached a breaking point in February 2026, as teachers previously employed by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have received no compensation since August 2025 [1]. Faced with mounting financial pressures, several educators have been forced to abandon their posts entirely, turning instead to small-scale trading, farming, and construction work to feed their families [1]. One teacher, speaking anonymously, captured the desperation: ‘We can’t keep working for months without being paid. We also have families to feed’ [1]. The payment interruption stems from a broader financial crisis affecting the UN agency, which has disrupted multiple assistance programmes across the Great Lakes region [1].
Classroom Conditions Deteriorate as Student-Teacher Ratios Soar
The staff exodus has created catastrophic learning conditions across multiple schools serving Burundian refugee children, including Isungu Primary School, Zawadi Primary School, Katungulu Primary School, and Kahunga Primary School [1]. At Isungu Primary School, administrators have been forced to combine three separate classes into single units, with each classroom now accommodating more than 150 pupils [1]. A teacher at the school explained the impossible situation: ‘We are very tired because there are more than 150 pupils in each class. If the UNHCR had the resources, it could pay the teachers so we can distribute the pupils properly’ [1]. The remaining educators, primarily Congolese teachers paid by the state, report severe difficulties in grading exercises, maintaining classroom discipline, and providing individual support to struggling students [1].
Student Dropout Crisis Accelerates Across Refugee Community
The deteriorating educational environment has prompted alarming numbers of children to abandon their studies entirely, with some heading to Tanganyika province to work with fishermen and contribute to family income [1]. Parents throughout the camp express deep concerns about the plummeting quality of education their children receive. One student, contemplating leaving school, voiced the frustration shared by many: ‘Imagine studying in a class of 150 pupils, what can you possibly learn? Instead of wasting our time, it’s better to go and earn money’ [1]. Local stakeholders warn that without immediate resumption of teacher salaries by UNHCR, the camp faces mass school dropouts with lasting consequences for thousands of Burundian refugee children [1].
Regional Funding Shortfalls Impact Humanitarian Operations Across East Africa
The crisis at Lusenda reflects broader funding challenges across refugee-hosting regions in East and Southern Africa, where international agencies struggle to maintain essential services amid what officials describe as ‘the most severe global funding crunch in decades’ [2]. On 11 February 2026, UNHCR and 123 partners launched a $1.6 billion appeal to support people fleeing Sudan’s conflict, highlighting the scale of resource needs across the region [2]. Mamadou Dian Balde, UNHCR’s Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, warned that ‘Sudan remains the world’s largest displacement and worst humanitarian crisis, unfolding in the wake of the most severe global funding crunch in decades’ [2]. In Egypt alone, funding per refugee per month has plummeted from $11 to just $4, forcing the closure of two of three registration centres [2]. Meanwhile, the International Organization for Migration launched an additional $91 million appeal on 18 February 2026, seeking support for migrants and host communities across the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa routes [3].