Geneva: Tony Mwaba calls for funding for education of children affected by conflict in Eastern DRC

During his closing remarks at the High-Level Conference on Financing the “Education Cannot Wait " (Education Without Delay) on Friday, February 17, 2023, in Geneva, Switzerland, the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, called for the mobilization of the international community, which has remained silent in the face of the security situation that remains a cause for concern in the eastern part of the DRC. He advocated for funding to support the education of Congolese children suffering the ravages of war. This took place in the presence of delegations from countries around the world. “We talk about education, but education is only possible where there is peace and security. I ask that we break the silence regarding the situation my country is going through," declared the Congolese Minister of Basic and Secondary Education. Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi focused his argument on the insecurity that plagues daily life in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, a situation caused by the presence of hostile forces, inter-community conflicts, and above all, the aggression his homeland is suffering at the hands of a neighboring country, Rwanda. This explains the urgency of his plea.   "More than 800 schools have been affected. Some have been burned down, destroyed, and others closed. Classrooms are occupied by displaced people, and desks have been turned into firewood. We are asking the ECW to help us through its multi-year program. It should be emphasized that this is the only program that bridges the gap between humanitarian aid and development aid, which begins with education and ultimately leads to peace and security," he said.   The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education also thanked “Education Cannot Wait” (ECW) for all that has already been done in his country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as for the redeployment taking place in at least three provinces (Tanganyika, Ituri, and Kasaï-Central) as part of the multi-year resilience program, co-administered by UNICEF in collaboration with all other partners. Regarding the DRC’s education system, Professor Tony Mwaba noted that it focuses on three areas: access, quality, and governance. Regarding access, the minister recalled that the President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, had decreed free primary education, which has enabled more than 6 million children to return to school. And in response to the unintended consequences of this reform, including overcrowding in classrooms, the Minister of Basic and Secondary Education emphasized that the Congolese government has implemented a number of supporting measures, notably the construction of new schools and new classrooms—efforts that have been supported by “Education Cannot Wait” (ECW).   “I thank ECW for its support, because thanks to its program, schools have been built, as well as school cafeterias and specialized teacher training,” concluded the Congolese Minister of Basic Education, Secondary Education, and Technical and Vocational Education (EPST). Christian BELLA