The sound of school bells has been replaced by silence in Uvira, a lake-side town in the conflict-ridden eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
The March 23 Movement rebellion seized control of the town late last year, forcing dozens of schools to shut down and keeping hundreds of children out of class.
With the shutdown of schools, some children have to spend their days playing in dusty streets. Others wander aimlessly. Once a place of learning and discipline, the schoolyard now stands empty, yet parents at least have peace of mind.
"We are here with our children under a fragile peace. From time to time, we hear gunshots and heavy weapons. As a parent, I fear that if I send my child to school, fighting could break out while he's there, and we could lose our children as we flee. We ask the government to restore peace because with peace, everything will return to normal," said Zawadi Divine, a resident.
At Cishibaji Primary School, the impact of insecurity is stark, with empty classrooms, desks neatly arranged, but without pupils, and blackboards untouched for weeks. No child has returned since violence escalated in the city.
School authorities have warned that prolonged closures are putting children at risk, while exposing them to idleness and worrying behavior.
"What keeps pupils away is fear, fear of war. The sound of heavy weapons disrupts education. We can no longer follow the curriculum or the school calendar. This is destroying these children's education," said Ebengu Kilumba, head teacher at Cishibanji Primary School.
For young learners, the interruption feels like a dark pause in their future. Displaced by violence, many see their dreams slipping away in a city where uncertainty reigns.
"We fled gunfire, bombs, heavy weapons which we expected at any moment. We are scattered across the city. We don't know if we will ever return to school. Some of our schools and supplies were destroyed. Psychologically, we are not stable. We've lost loved ones, homes, and the means to continue our education," said Byamungu Kibungu Tresor, a resident.
Caught between security and education, families in Uvira face a painful dilemma. Many choose to keep their children at home, fearing renewed fighting during school hours. For now, the fear of war outweighs the hope of learning, leaving a generation waiting for peace before they can return to class.
Conflict forces children out of classrooms in eastern DR Congo
Conflict forces children out of classrooms in eastern DR Congo
