Kinshasa/Tshangu: Tony Mwaba calls public and private school principals to order

A series of working sessions continued on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. The Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, addressed school principals from Kinshasa/Tshangu to reprimand those who persist in the negative values that have taken root in this educational province. The meeting took place at Bonsomi Middle School, in District 4, in the commune of Ndjili. 

Minister Tony Mwaba began by explaining to his audience the objective of his initiative, which aims to reestablish contact with public and private school administrators at the grassroots level in order to prevent information gaps or miscommunication of his directives—particularly regarding the fight against all forms of anti-values in schools—and to preserve the gains made through free primary education.

The head of the EPST listed several bad practices that are undermining the Kinshasa/Tshangu educational province, based on reports he had received. Among other things, he cited non-compliance with guidelines regarding the setting of fees for participation in certification exams; the monetization of school supplies; the lack of educational visits; insufficient desks in schools; the failure to use textbooks intended for students, even though they are stored in offices; the misuse of operating funds; school closures without proper authorization; teachers wandering aimlessly; uninhabitable classrooms; the failure to disseminate the code of conduct; promotion based on fees, resulting in the announcement of results that remain arbitrary, especially in private schools; the illegal collection of the free education subsidy; in short, the failure to implement measures taken by the authorities to combat unethical practices.

In a firm tone, Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi reminded school principals of their responsibilities and the instructions they must follow. He issued a final warning to those who refuse to comply and promised severe sanctions, all with the aim of permanently eradicating anti-values in the Kinshasa/Tshangu educational province. 

At the conclusion of his remarks, the minister invited the Secretary General of the EPST to read the guide containing the essential documents for school management, in order to facilitate the work of school principals. In this regard, Professor Tony Mwaba instructed the Secretary General and the National Director of DINACOPE to make these documents available online for accessibility. 

Following the stop in Kinshasa/Tshangu, the head of the EPST and his delegation will travel on Wednesday, July 5, to the educational province of Kinshasa/Mont-Amba to continue the series of meetings with school principals.

Christian BELLA