SSEF joint review: Minister of State Raïssa Malu closes work on a note of hope

The 2023 edition of the Joint Review of the 2016–2025 Sectoral Strategy for Education and Training (SSEF) in the DRC concluded on Thursday, September 20, 2024, in the conference room of the Pullman Hotel in Kinshasa-Gombe. Minister of State and Minister of National Education and New Citizenship (EDU-NC), Raïssa Malu, who closed the four-day session of reflection and discussion, expressed her gratitude to the participants for their valuable contributions.

“We had the opportunity to revisit together the main pillars of our strategy, to assess the success we have collectively achieved, but also to identify the challenges that remain. This introspection has allowed us to look toward the future with a clear vision and renewed commitments. I would like to commend the insightful presentations by our experts, as well as the lively discussions that took place in the workshops. Your informed analyses and recommendations are essential to guiding the next steps in our approach,” stated Raïssa Malu.

The Minister of State took this opportunity to reiterate the importance of collaboration within the sector, given the established partnership, to achieve the set objectives. 

She also encouraged all stakeholders to continue their dialogue, strengthen synergy, and mobilize all necessary resources to ensure quality education accessible to all. 

The head of EDU-NC expressed her deep gratitude to the President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who has placed education at the heart of national priorities. 

“His vision and commitment continue to inspire our actions,” she said. 

A total of 135 delegates from various institutions participated in the Joint Review conference session, including the Office of the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister’s Office, the offices of ministers in the Education and Training sector and their central and provincial administrations, the Ministries of Finance, Budget, and Planning, technical and financial partners, civil society, ANAPECO, teachers’ unions, religious denominations, including delegations from the Republic of the Congo, Burundi, Chad, and Cameroon, as well as the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). Other participants followed the proceedings online. 

These stakeholders made several recommendations at the conclusion of the meeting, including ensuring the training of teachers, guidance counselors, and special education professionals on inclusive teaching practices; integrating special education and inclusive education into the Congolese education system; strengthening interministerial dialogue in the education sector; disseminating the new preschool curriculum; supporting the Ministry of Education – NC in developing the National Food Policy and Operational Strategy; making school cafeterias operational in the Education-NC sub-sector; accelerate the preparation of the Education in Emergencies Strategy; provide technical and financial support for the implementation of open and distance learning in our education system through state funding and by establishing bilateral and multilateral partnerships. 

Raïssa Malu hopes that the discussions and decisions made during the meeting will guide future actions in the sector and contribute to the continuous improvement of the DRC’s education system. She was accompanied by the Minister of Vocational Training and Trades, Marc Ekila; the Minister of Higher and University Education, Marie-Thérèse Sombo; and the Deputy Minister of EDU-NC, Jean-Pierre Kezamudru.

Christian BELLA