The educational provinces of Kinshasa-Plateau and Kinshasa-Tshangu, located east of the Congolese capital, were recently described as “seats of anti-values” by the Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education, Tony Muaba Kazadi. During a meeting with the heads of schools in the province of Kinshasa-Mont/Amba, the minister pointed out the deviant practices that persist in these regions.
According to Tony Muaba Kazadi, these anti-values are manifested by non-compliance with official instructions, the invention of illicit fees, the increase in fees for certification tests, the consideration of students as customers, the abusive use of operating costs , as well as the complicity between the heads of establishments and the inspectors. He stressed that these practices must be corrected and that provincial officials must commit to reversing the trend.
The purpose of this meeting was to remind and give direct instructions to the heads of establishments, considered to be the first actors in the fight against anti-values. The Minister thus wishes to prepare for a well-prepared 2023-2024 school year, where moral values and ethics will be put forward.
However, during this meeting, the Secretary General Christine Nepa Nepa also evoked the betrayal of certain collaborators, in particular of the Provincial Directors and other executives, who are also promoters of schools. This situation complicates the task of enforcing official instructions scrupulously.
Faced with this, Minister Tony Muaba Kazadi encouraged Christine Nepa Nepa to persevere in her mission, stressing that even if some may consider the instructions as lukewarm water, it is important to bring the water to a boil at 100° C, because the consequences will be unavoidable.
It is therefore essential that the competent authorities take firm measures to fight against these anti-values and ensure that education in the Democratic Republic of Congo remains a fundamental pillar for the development of the country. It is also essential that headteachers and provincial officials become aware of their key role in promoting moral and ethical values within the education system.
The fight against anti-values can only be done with the commitment of all the actors involved in the field of education. It is therefore necessary to put in place rigorous control and monitoring mechanisms in order to guarantee the transparency and integrity of the Congolese education system.
In conclusion, awareness of the problems related to anti-values in the educational provinces of Kinshasa-Plateau and Kinshasa-Tshangu is a first step towards their eradication.. We must now take action and put in place concrete measures to promote positive and ethical values in the field of education in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Only by acting together can we ensure a better future for future generations.