Candidates for the 5th edition of the Excellentia scholarship took part in their selection test on Wednesday October 11, 2023 at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Kinshasa. During this event, the first lady of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, was present to encourage the candidates. She urged the winners of the 2023 edition to give the best of themselves in order to be part of the Excellentia scholarship holders.
For this test, 234 students out of the 254 eligible from the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education participated. They came from different towns such as Lodja, Tshikapa, Kananga, Mbuji-Mayi, Goma, Lubumbashi, Mbanza-Ngungu and Kinshasa. The test consisted of one hundred questions and candidates had to obtain a minimum of 70% to benefit from the Excellentia scholarship, which fully covers university costs for five years, whether abroad or in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
It is important to emphasize that only finalists who obtained a score of at least 85% in the Exetat, the secondary school leaving exam, were selected to take the Excellentia scholarship test.
To date, the Excellentia Program has 241 scholarship holders, of which 82 are enrolled in foreign universities and 159 in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The participation of the first lady in this event shows the importance given to education and excellence in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Excellentia Scholarship provides talented students with a unique opportunity to continue their studies and develop their potential. Let’s hope that the winners of this 2023 edition will be able to seize this chance and contribute to the future of their country.