Boniface Mbaka advocates professional discipline in the handling of teachers' files

Managers from the Directorate of Oversight, Payroll Preparation, and Staffing Management for Teachers and Administrative Personnel in Educational Institutions (DINACOPE)—comprising primarily provincial directors from various provinces across the country—assessed the directorate’s activities during a review workshop held from November 4 to 7, 2024, under the theme: “Back to Basics.” National Director Boniface Mbaka, who officially closed the proceedings in the meeting room of the SAFAK International School in Kinshasa-Gombe, called on his staff to exercise professional discipline.

"I call on you to exercise discipline, follow instructions, and act swiftly in matters concerning teachers, because a return to the fundamentals means putting teachers first and at the center. Teachers must reclaim the place they deserve in the handling of our cases," declared Boniface Mbaka.

The National Director of DINACOPE has committed to ensuring the smooth operation of this department within the Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship (EDU-NC). He also promised to wield his “two-sided stick,” meaning both positive and negative sanctions.

On the same occasion, Boniface Mbaka paid a heartfelt tribute to President Félix Tshisekedi for the program of free primary education in public schools, a constitutional provision now in effect throughout the entire national territory. He called on his colleagues to support the Head of State in this initiative, which has also been adopted by Prime Minister Judith Tuluka Suminwa and her government, through the Minister of State and Minister of EDU-NC, Raïssa Malu.

The head of DINACOPE also thanked all the provincial directors who, at the conclusion of this workshop, pledged to support him.

"I am convinced that I am not alone. And since I am not alone, I can make bold decisions—sometimes even daring ones—so that we can set the record straight," he said.

Boniface Mbaka finally proceeded with a symbolic handover of pay stubs, putting an end to the uncertainty that had persisted between payroll operators and educators.

"Teachers were going to the bank without a compass, without a guide, and they didn’t know how much they were supposed to receive from the public treasury. And that is why some banks were printing the lists themselves on the spot, unlike the lists coming from the payroll department, which originate from the Ministry of Budget, the designated body responsible for the payroll of all teachers and civil servants," he explained.

Christian BELLA