The sit-in of agents and executives of the EPST demanding the payment of their management bonus in front of the Smart building of the Government caused a lively agitation. These professionals of the central administration of the EPST are, in fact, frustrated by the fact that their bonus, decided seven months ago during the Mbuela Lodge agreements, has still not been paid.
Marcel Lutumba, delegate of the Transparency and Social Justice Federation EPST trade union, pointed out that this situation concerns nearly 3,908 agents from various EPST departments, including the General Inspectorate, State Examination correctors, collaborators of the minister and of the general secretary of the EPST. He regretted that despite the instruction of the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Budget, Finance, EPST and ESU did not comply with the payment of this bonus.
Faced with these tensions, Marcel Lutumba proposes the mechanization of the management bonus in order to facilitate payments and ease tensions in the EPST sector. He considers that the intervention of the President of the Republic would be necessary to solve this problem linked to free education.
This sit-in highlights the difficulties faced by agents and managers of the EPST, who play an essential role in the organization of the school year and in the implementation of the country’s educational policy. Their legitimate demand for payment of their coaching bonus also reflects the broader challenges facing the education sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo, particularly in terms of funding and improving working conditions.
It is important that the competent authorities quickly take measures to resolve this situation and guarantee a peaceful return to school next September. The respect of the agreements concluded and the payment of bonuses to the agents of the EPST are essential to maintain the motivation and the commitment of these key professionals in the Congolese education system.
This episode also highlights the need for transparent and equitable management of resources, ensuring that funds allocated to education are used effectively and directly benefit actors in the sector