Tony Mwaba responds positively to the concerns of EPST trade unionists

On Thursday, January 11, 2024, the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST) received a delegation from the Inter-Union Committee of teachers’ unions in his office. Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi provided satisfactory solutions to the concerns raised by this delegation of educators from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

Speaking on behalf of his platform, the president of the Inter-Union of EPST Teachers’ Unions, Godefroid Matondo outlined to Minister Tony Mwaba the various concerns of teachers, particularly the non-payment that characterized the 2023 year-end holiday period, especially regarding teachers in hard-to-reach areas, even though the Government of the Republic had already settled the payments with the payroll operators.

“We came to see the minister, as he is a member of the government, so that he can work with his colleagues who oversee the payroll operators to put an end to the teachers’ suffering. There have even been deaths in Mai-Ndombe. Pay has been processed 95%; it is only the remaining 5% from 32 entities that have not been paid. The operator causing us serious problems is IFOD,” stated the President of the EPST Teachers’ Union Alliance.

The issue of arrears in the management bonus for staff and executives in the EPST’s central services was also addressed during this meeting. It was noted that the problem lies in the automation of said bonus.

“The minister had written to have this bonus automated, but since we are at the beginning of the year, there is a new fiscal year. We asked the minister if we could send a reminder. And tomorrow, this reminder letter will be signed by him to be submitted to the Ministry of Budget. We also discussed the special allowance for itinerant inspectors, which has not yet been paid,” said Godefroid Matondo.

In response to all these concerns, Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi assured the union members of his willingness to support them in achieving their goals. The head of the EPST also emphasized that regarding the salaries of teachers in hard-to-reach areas, the managers of these operators have been contacted by mail, and he will follow up with them again to find appropriate solutions.

Another issue addressed during the meeting was the training of teachers, with the aim of making significant strides in improving the quality of education in the EPST sub-sector—a key priority for Minister Tony Mwaba following the consolidation and sustainability of free primary education in the country’s public schools.

To combine business with pleasure, the meeting concluded with an exchange of New Year’s greetings. Seizing the opportunity, the head of the EPST asked the union representatives to prioritize collaborative work throughout 2024.

Christian BELLA