Social peace at EPST: Tony Mwaba calls for payment of service providers, especially those involved in the Exetat and TENAFEP exams

The National Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, sent a letter to the Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, requesting his involvement in the payment of various performance bonuses in accordance with commitments made by the Congolese government, in order to promote social peace within his ministry during this pre-election period and as the 2023 national certification exams approach. These include the performance bonuses for examiners of the 2022 State Examination (EXETAT), the National Primary School Completion Test (TENAFEP) for the 2020, 2021, and 2022 sessions, the issuance of 2021 state diplomas, 2022, accommodation for examiners at the 2022 State Exams, the management bonus for the EPST central services payroll, and the four-month unpaid leave bonus owed to primary school teachers. “It is worth noting that the current heated tensions on the eve of the 2023 national certification exams 2023 edition, risks compromising not only the school year—which had, however, started well—but also the gains from our many achievements under the support measures for free education decreed by His Excellency the President of the Republic, with another consequence on the social sector, which is being affected during this pre-election period,” the document states. In this letter dated Saturday, March 11, the head of the EPST also regrets that payment requests for these services have gone unanswered to date, despite the instructions given by President Félix Tshisekedi during the Cabinet meeting on March 3. “This is prompting some managers and staff, manipulated by certain politicians lacking imagination, to spread the claim that these funds have been embezzled, with the sole aim of fueling demands and violent protests in my sub-sector,” notes Tony Mwaba. In his letter, the minister believes that Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde’s personal involvement will help resolve the situation, restore peace, and ultimately safeguard the government’s achievements in this sub-sector. Bruno Nsaka