Graduation ceremonies in the kindergarten cycle are prohibited.

The Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education, Professor Tony Mwaba, has banned all schools from holding graduation ceremonies for kindergarten graduates.

The supervisory authority announced this in a circular letter numbered 002 on Saturday, July 8, 2023.

This circular is addressed to all national, provincial, sub-provincial, and local officials throughout the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"At the end of each school year, graduation ceremonies are held for kindergarten graduates, even though such ceremonies are reserved exclusively for high school and university graduates. It should be noted that this practice violates current regulations and has led to several incidents and incalculable consequences. Therefore, I am prohibiting school principals from organizing the aforementioned ceremony. I will not revisit this matter," the document states.

In addition to the noise pollution and public disturbances sometimes caused by these ceremonies, it is worth noting that schools demand significant fees for graduation gowns and other items from parents before the results are announced.

Célestin Zeula