National Assembly: Tony Mwaba enlightens the Human Rights Commission on the deactivation of schools and the socio-professional conditions of teachers

Appearing before the National Assembly’s Human Rights Committee at the invitation of the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Thursday, November 10, 2022, in the banquet hall of the People’s Palace, the Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba, addressed all the concerns raised, much to the satisfaction of the national deputies. The objective was to review a number of issues related to the right to education, guaranteed in the Republic’s constitution. It was a meeting of give and take, chaired by the Committee Chair, Deputy Simon-Pierre Lyananio. In his remarks, the head of the EPST, accompanied by the Deputy Minister of EPST, Aminata Namasia Bazego, provided answers to questions plaguing his sub-sector, notably the issue of school closures; the number of closed schools; the financial impact of these closures on the state treasury; the allocation of funds designated for closed schools, given that the budget was already being executed for all schools; the Minister’s overall policy for improving teachers’ salaries and working conditions, as well as ensuring the smooth operation of schools to guarantee high-quality education; the fate of a teacher and father who falls ill and becomes disabled; the progress made in implementing free primary education and the recommendations and agreements reached with the teachers’ unions. These responses were applauded by the members of the House of Representatives, members of the Human Rights Committee, who each raised concerns in general terms, first regarding the education sector and, second, specifically regarding the particularities of each electoral district. These concerns were met with a most satisfactory response from Minister Tony Mwaba, who promised to implement all the recommendations made by his former colleagues. Professor Tony Mwaba was congratulated and thanked by the elected representatives for his answers, which amply demonstrate his mastery of issues within the EPST sub-sector. “The minister answered all the questions posed. But we cannot be satisfied with what is being done now; we want him to do even more so that every Congolese child, in accordance with our constitution, can have access to quality education. Free education, yes! But we want that free education to be of high quality. The minister has informed us of all the efforts he and his department are making to achieve the quality we all expect,” stated the Chair of the National Assembly’s Human Rights Committee. For his part, the head of the EPST also expressed his gratitude to the Human Rights Committee, through its Chair and its bureau, for subjecting him to this republican duty and accountability within the framework of parliamentary oversight. “This was an opportunity for us to demonstrate to the National Assembly’s Human Rights Commission all the efforts already made in our sub-sector, starting with the assessment we conducted since our arrival, as well as everything that still needs to be done, and the resources required to achieve this,” said Professor Tony Mwaba. This meeting comes at a time when the National Assembly has just declared the 2023 Finance Bill admissible and referred it to the Committee. The head of the EPST took this opportunity to request support from the budgetary authority to ensure sufficient funds are made available to address major issues facing his sub-sector. Minister Tony Mwaba also requested, through the Human Rights Commission, the support of the National Assembly to assist the ministry in its efforts to activate the innovative resources identified in the Prime Minister’s decree establishing and governing the Education and Training Promotion Fund (FPEF), in order to support the Congolese education system beyond the national budget. The National Assembly’s Human Rights Commission has promised to support the minister in finding sustainable solutions in the near future. Christian BELLA