On behalf of the Prime Minister, Tony Mwaba launches the work of the Joint Commission Government - EPST Trade Union Bench

On behalf of Prime Minister Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, launched the proceedings of the Joint Commission between the Government of the Republic and the EPST Trade Union Council on Saturday, February 24, 2024, as has been the tradition in the sub-sector for some time. This two-week meeting, held at Village Venus in Bibwa, in the commune of N’sele, focuses on the various concerns of Congolese teachers with the aim of improving the quality of education.

The participants, consisting mainly of government officials and union leaders from all provinces of the DRC, are called upon to conduct a mid-term evaluation of the commitments made by both parties—a permanent dialogue established by Minister Tony Mwaba on the instructions of the Head of State, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, to maintain a climate of peace.

The regular holding of these meetings was welcomed by the spokesperson for the EPST Inter-Union Committee, Godefroid Matondo. He also commended the willingness of educators to continue teaching as usual, despite the national government’s failure to honor the commitments made during the last round of talks.

Consequently, the spokesperson for the EPST Inter-Union Alliance warned the Congolese employer and threatened to call for a general strike if their demands were not met by the end of these meetings.

The head of the EPST, who spoke last, highlighted the objectives pursued during this Government-Union Joint Committee meeting.

"We have therefore taken the initiative to meet and invite you so that we can examine together, within the framework of the 2024 budget allocations, what funding has been set aside for our EPST subsector. And within that funding, what portion has been specifically allocated to teachers. That is the primary concern bringing us together. And once we know what has been allocated to us within the 2024 budget allocations, we will then examine the commitments the Government has made to the union, what has been agreed upon, what has been achieved so far, and what remains to be done," stated Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi.

The minister also thanked the trade unionists for their support, which has led to the success of several initiatives with visible impact, notably the continuation of free primary education—a flagship initiative of the President of the Republic’s first five-year term—which has brought more than 6 million school-age children back to school.

Christian BELLA