Tony Mwaba issues a final warning to inspectors who collect illegal fees

As he does every week, the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, accompanied by the Deputy Minister, Aminata Namasia Bazego, convened a meeting on Monday, November 14, 2022, the Directors-General and Deputy General Inspectors of his ministry for a working session, in the presence of the Acting Secretary General of the EPST and the General Inspector of the EPST. He called these officials to order, reiterating the need to revitalize the sub-sector by combating negative values and ensuring the sustainability of free primary education—two priorities to which he has committed his sub-sector since his appointment.

Addressing the issue of the education subsector’s recovery, Minister Tony Mwaba strongly condemned—based on information he received following a review of the field activity report—the continued collection of illegal fees by certain inspectors in collusion with some school principals. He ordered that a warning statement be drafted and distributed to inspectors who violate the instructions given.

It was also noted that some teachers were in possession of fake school and academic credentials. On this issue, the minister urged the Deputy General Inspectors present in the room to exercise objectivity and rigor in verifying these credentials.

The Director of International Cooperation reviewed the strengths and weaknesses observed in collaboration with technical and financial partners in education. On this subject, he noted that the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education (EPST) is subject to the dictates of these partners, who do not involve ministry officials in the design and implementation of certain projects, leaving the ministry often facing a fait accompli.

A recommendation was made to invite the partners to the next weekly meeting to address this issue, because, according to the Director, the partners sometimes choose the provinces in which to operate on their own, which disadvantages provinces that actually have urgent needs for support.

The Directorate of Programs and Educational Materials (DIPROMAD), for its part, informed the head of the EPST about the workshop on capacity building regarding basic education. He noted that participants are being trained in curriculum development. This initiative was welcomed by Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, who hopes that this training will bring added value to his sub-sector.

This latest weekly meeting, established by the Minister of EPST to promote local management, concluded with the symbolic presentation of several literature textbooks to ministry officials.

Christian BELLA