The 2024-2025 academic year was officially launched at the Kinshasa High School of Commerce (HEC/Kin), under the watchful eye of the Minister of Higher and University Education, Marie-Thérèse Sombo Ayanne Safi Mukuna. The ceremony was marked by the presence of university professors, teaching staff and ministerial executives, thus demonstrating the importance of this event for the education sector in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In her inaugural speech, Minister Sombo addressed several crucial points concerning the challenges and issues to be addressed for a successful academic year. She stressed the need to quickly resolve the problems encountered by teachers, such as late payment of salaries and bonuses, the distribution of vehicles, or the mechanization of new doctors. These pressing issues are among the government’s priorities in order to ensure optimal working conditions for teaching staff and guarantee adequate quality of teaching.
Furthermore, the Minister announced the strengthening of control missions in higher education and university institutions throughout the country. This decision aims to ensure good governance and to sanction behaviors that are unethical and untransparent. It is essential to promote rational management of public resources and eliminate practices that are harmful to the integrity of the Congolese education system.
Another point addressed by Marie-Thérèse Sombo concerns the proliferation of higher education institutions that do not meet technical quality and viability standards. To remedy this situation, viability control will be intensified throughout the country, in order to guarantee quality and valuable education for Congolese students.
Finally, the Minister stressed the importance of harmonizing the academic calendar within higher education and university institutions, in accordance with the instructions of President Félix Tshisekedi. This measure aims to ensure better coordination of educational activities and to promote a more coherent approach to higher education in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In short, this official launch of the 2024-2025 academic year marks the beginning of a new phase for the education sector in the DRC, with ambitious initiatives aimed at improving the quality of education and strengthening governance in higher education and university institutions. This new dynamic, driven by the commitment of the Minister and the government, paves the way for necessary reforms for a more efficient and effective education system.