Kinshasa: Revision of the Life Education Program

A national workshop dedicated to reviewing the Life Skills Education Curriculum for primary and secondary schools has been taking place in the Congolese capital since February 9 and will last for ten days. This initiative aims to update this strategic framework to adapt it to the current realities of young people and new educational challenges.

Organized by the Directorate of Life Skills Education (DEVC), with support from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Girls’ Learning and Empowerment Project, the meeting brings together national experts, technical partners, and education officials. Discussions focused in particular on challenges related to juvenile delinquency, substance abuse, early exposure to sexualized content, and issues of sexual and reproductive health.

At the opening of the discussions, DEVC Director-General Christelle Nsambu emphasized the importance of a thorough review of the program to incorporate new themes and formulate operational guidelines. She noted that the review will result in a report to be examined jointly with partners to determine the implementation steps.

The program, structured by age groups in primary school (6–8 years, 9–10 years, and 11–12 years), provides progressive educational content focused on developing life skills, with one weekly session per class. This approach aims to better support learners’ development and strengthen their personal and social education.

Through this revision, the Ministry intends to standardize the educational tools provided to teachers to prevent risky behaviors, reduce early pregnancies, combat gender-based violence, and encourage girls to stay in school. The program builds on Family Life Education, enriched by a comprehensive approach to sex education and the development of life skills, while taking into account provincial sociocultural realities.

Once the work is completed, the expected recommendations should contribute to more consistent instruction that is age-appropriate and geared toward fostering responsible, independent citizens who are aware of social issues.

Marie Shomba