Title: Back to school in the DRC: Challenges to face for quality education
Introduction: The start of the 2023-2024 school year took place in the Democratic Republic of Congo this Monday, September 4. Despite the difficulties encountered in certain regions plagued by insecurity, the government remains ambitious in implementing measures to improve the quality of education. In this article, we will examine the goals set by the government, the challenges it faces and the solutions envisaged.
Ambitious goals for the 2023-2024 school year:
The Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (EPST), Tony Mwaba Kazadi, revealed the objectives set for this school year during the official launch in Kinshasa. Among the actions planned in the EPST sub-sector, we include the support of nearly 24,000 new schools, an increase of 57%. In addition, 781 schools will be built to relieve overcrowded classes.
In order to ensure adequate remuneration for teachers, a significant increase in the monthly salary package is planned, with an increase of 238%. The reintegration of more than 6 million students into the school system and the support of more than 279,000 agents are also planned.
Challenges and solutions for quality education:
However, the start of the school year is taking place under controversial conditions in certain regions of the country. Teachers in Irumu, in Ituri province, have started a strike movement due to payment delays deemed “deliberate and exaggerated” by the central government, which led to the suspension of classes in the region.
In the Maï-Ndombe 3 educational province, teachers are demanding payment of three months of salary not paid by Caritas. They decided to boycott the start of the school year until their demands were met.
Faced with these challenges, the government is committed to resolving late payment issues and ensuring an environment conducive to quality education. Steps will be taken to improve governance and accountability in the education sector. In addition, efforts will be made to ensure security in regions affected by insecurity, to allow students to go to school in peace.
Conclusion :
The start of the school year in the DRC for the year 2023-2024 is marked by ambitious objectives aimed at improving the quality of education. Despite the challenges facing the government, measures are being put in place to address the issues of late payment to teachers and ensure a conducive environment for education. It is essential to guarantee access to quality education for all Congolese children, in order to promote their development and contribute to building a better future for the country.