Dissertation: Institut de la Gombe finalists already sharpening their weapons

With just 72 hours to go before the final exams—including the essay exam scheduled for May 6 across the entire DRC—high school seniors are in full swing with their preparations. At the Institut de la Gombe in Kinshasa, the students—most of whom appear confident and calm—are continuing their preparations under the guidance of their teachers. Since the exam includes an essay, these students are reviewing past exams as well as practicing dictation. Everything takes place in a friendly atmosphere, much more relaxed than during regular class hours. The teachers, who are very approachable, encourage their students to ask as many questions as possible to be fully prepared before the actual exams. Miriame Kazadi, a 10th-grade literature student, is confident she has everything she needs to face the certification exams with complete peace of mind. "Preparations are well underway; my classmates and I have been preparing for these certification exams since the beginning of the year. It’s basically a review, which is what we’re doing right now. Everything has already been taught throughout the year, but since review is the mother of learning, our teachers have had us go through this exercise so that certain subjects taught at the beginning of the year are reviewed and don’t slip our minds,” she said. For David Kimbwala, a student in the 4th year of the Pedagogy program, "We’re ready to take on these exams, even if it’s a little stressful. However, our teachers have asked us to stay calm so that everything goes smoothly next Monday. Everything is going well; the review sessions include plenty of explanations. I’m confident I’ll give it my all and succeed. I’ll choose the topic that makes the most sense to me so I don’t fumble. That’s one of the tips our teacher gave us." It should be noted that on Monday, May 1, teaching staff in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were briefed by the General Inspectorate of Primary and Secondary Education on preparations for the essay exams for graduating high school students, scheduled for May 6. On that occasion, Inspector General Jacques Odia emphasized the need to accurately assess the level of Congolese students, stressing the importance of meritocracy. “Certification exams allow us to assess the quality of our education and the students’ performance—that is, to determine whether these students deserve to move up to the next grade or not,” he stated, before adding: “No cheating, no collusion at the test centers, so that those who succeed do so fairly.” This meeting was organized to commemorate National Education Day, celebrated on April 30 each year. This year’s theme was “Revaluing the Teaching Profession: A Pledge for Quality Education in the DRC.” School administrators, inspectors, parent-teacher associations, and teachers’ unions participated in this awareness-raising meeting. Michaella Kiasungwa