Tony Mwaba considers appropriate solutions to FPEF and AFD concerns

The Minister of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, accompanied by the Secretary General of EPST and the Inspector General of EPST, presided over a series of meetings on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, in the conference room of Radio Télévision de l'Éducation (RTEDUC), These meetings took place following his return to Kinshasa on the night of Monday, September 25.

The head of the EPST first met with the delegation from the Fund for the Promotion of Education and Training (FPEF), led by its Deputy Director General, who presented to Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi the difficulties hindering the proper functioning of her organization. In particular, she raised the issue of bonuses, which, according to her, have been suspended since August by the General Inspectorate of Finance (IGF), which requires that these bonuses—revised in accordance with the FPEF’s resources—be formalized via a ministerial decree.

In terms of solutions, the minister asked the Deputy Director General and her delegation to draft a proposal to be submitted to the General Secretariat of the EPST for a compliance review prior to its signing.

Subsequently, Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi received the delegation from the Project Coordination Unit of the French Development Agency (AFD). At the outset of these discussions, the head of the EPST reminded the team of the strict adherence to procedures and the chain of command that must be observed without exception. He then gave the floor to the delegation to hear their various concerns. 

The AFD Project Coordination team specifically raised the obstacles they are facing with the "Molakisi Telema" project as well as the "PREACE" project, whose decrees must be updated to account for the project management units.

This issue led to a difference of opinion between the AFD representatives and the EPST central administration officials who were present at the meeting. On the spot, the minister convened an evaluation meeting to be held this Thursday, September 28, with the aim of clarifying all ambiguities, particularly regarding the procedure for appointing the Deputy Coordinator of these educational projects, as requested by the AFD.

For the record, "Molakisi Telema" is a project aimed at building a teacher training center. The "PREACE" project aims to provide retirement benefits for teachers and construct schools in the Kongo-Central administrative province. The former is funded to the tune of 10 million euros and the latter to the tune of 25 million euros by the AFD.

Following this meeting, Professor Tony Mwaba convened a closed-door session with senior officials from the EPST’s central administration to review and evaluate the sub-sector.

Christian BELLA