Tony Mwaba talks to coordinators of subsidized schools about the values needed to make free education a lasting reality.

The Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), Professor Tony Mwaba Kazadi, has called on all national and provincial coordinators of charter schools to strictly enforce the policy of free primary education and to combat all forms of misconduct—two key priorities that have formed the foundation of his policy since he took office. This took place during a meeting he chaired on Wednesday, January 18, 2023, in the CREC hall, located in the Gombe district. The meeting provided an opportunity for the EPST Minister to call the coordinators of charter schools to order. Professor Tony Mwaba placed particular emphasis on the role that each person must play in the administration and management of schools in the era of free primary education. "Get to work. Let each of you prove to me what you are capable of in terms of rigor and excellence. I urge you to focus on results-oriented work—results aimed at ensuring the sustainability of free primary education and combating negative values. Also ensure rigor in the management of schools, as well as the sustainability of school infrastructure," declared the head of the EPST. Minister Tony Mwaba expects these coordinators to deliver better performance, based on results, as well as teacher recruitment based on competence and quality. Regarding the appointment of these officials, the head of the EPST noted that his ministry has already sent letters to religious leaders requesting that they submit lists of candidates to be appointed as heads of school coordination committees. It will then be up to Professor Tony Mwaba to ratify them through a ministerial decree, which will designate the coordinators as public servants of the State, to be funded by the Treasury. “Contrary to what I had announced, I have decided to sign a decree individually after speaking with each of you. Because once this decree is issued, you automatically become state employees. This provides you with security, so that you are not subject to the whims of your legal representatives,” the minister said. Christian BELLA