Kinshasa: Tony Mwaba launches the second edition of TENASOSP

The Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, launched the second edition of the National Test for Academic and Career Guidance and Selection (TENASOSP) on Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Sainte Rita School in the municipality of Mont-Ngafula. The ceremony took place in the presence of the Provincial Minister of Education, Charles Mbutamuntu; the Secretary General, Christine Nepa Nepa; the Inspector General, Jacques Odia; the PROVED representative for Kinshasa/Lukunga, Jean-Pierre Yoy Bokete; and a representative sample of graduating students.

In his speech delivered for the occasion, the head of the EPST first thanked the President of the Republic and Head of State, Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, for making primary education free—a reform that has enabled millions of school-age children to return to school throughout the entire country.

Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi then urged all candidates to avoid cheating during the exams, a negative practice that can only harm them in light of TENASOSP’s objectives.

"Dear Basic Education graduates. For two days, you will be tested on academic knowledge and through psycho-technical assessments. There is no point in trying to cheat off your neighbor or asking for their help, since it is each of you—with your unique strengths and specific qualities—that the Republic wishes to support in pursuing a humanities or vocational track aligned with your aptitudes and aspirations. "I therefore urge each of you to work diligently so that this second edition of the TENASOSP can achieve its objectives," declared the Minister of EPST.

This exam, which is for students in their final year of basic education, registered 1,571,285 candidates this year—889,037 boys and 682,248 girls—spread across 5,276 testing centers, including two outside the country (Luanda and Cabinda, in Angola).

Compared to the first edition, the number of testing centers increased from 5,056 in 2022 to 5,278 in 2023, representing an increase of 222 centers. The number of girls rose from 603,096 in 2022 to 682,248 in 2023, an increase of 79,152 candidates.

There were 637 secondary examination centers in 2023, compared to 609 in 2022, an increase of 28 centers. These figures fluctuate over time and in response to the social and educational context.

Christian BELLA