Tony Mwaba launches the online reference directory of mechanized public schools in the DRC

In a first in the history of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, accompanied by Deputy Minister Aminata Namasia, launched on Monday, January 23, 2023, the online launch of the Reference Directory of Mechanized Public Schools, in accordance with Ministerial Decree No. MINEPST/CABMIN/126/2022 of November 23, 2022. This initiative, which responds to the Head of State’s commitment to consolidating and ensuring the long-term sustainability of free primary education, puts an end to the issue of fictitious schools.

According to Minister Tony Mwaba Kazadi, it was imperative to establish this directory to preserve the gains made through the efforts of the Republic’s government in supporting teachers and improving their working conditions, with a view to enabling his ministry to move forward on a new footing, particularly regarding the creation and mechanization of new public schools.

The head of the EPST emphasized that this innovation is secured by a QR code and will be updated at the start of each school year, a way to meet the expectations of the President of the Republic, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who enacted the constitutional provision regarding free primary education in all public schools.

Professor Tony Mwaba also took this opportunity to announce the launch of the Directory of Private Schools by the end of January 2023, to enable the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (EPST), through the Teacher Control and Payroll Service (SECOPE), to identify private schools across the country and allow the General Inspectorate to conduct ongoing viability checks.

Christian BELLA