Educational leadership in Ituri 1: end of training, start of a field mission

It is just past 11 a.m. in the quiet courtyard of Murongo Elementary School, which borders La Jeunesse soccer field in Bunia. In a room still filled with people, smiles mingle with applause. This Wednesday, June 18, marks a turning point: the completion of training for ten provincial inspectors on educational leadership, a crucial initiative for the future of public elementary schools in the Ituri 1 educational province. For five days, from June 14 to 18, these ten supervisors from various parts of the Ituri 1 educational province received training on the strategic role of the school principal in educational governance. It was a technical, intensive training program, but above all, one focused on practical application. Organized by the Ministry of National Education through the National Primary Teacher Training Service (SERNAFOR PRIMAIRE), as part of the Project for the Improvement of Teaching Quality (PEQIP), this session aimed to strengthen the skills of those who will be responsible for bringing this knowledge directly to the field. A closing ceremony marked by commitment The closing ceremony was far from a mere formal farewell. It was a moment of reflection, recognition, but also a wake-up call: what begins now matters just as much as what has just ended.

“I would like to express my gratitude to all participants for the spirit of trust and collaboration that characterized these five days,” said Mr. Mbakaka Mbanga Sébastien, Provincial Chief Inspector of Ituri 1, visibly pleased with the participants’ commitment. “I am convinced that the knowledge gained will be put into practice under the best possible conditions.”

Among the trained inspectors, the sentiment is unanimous: this training has been a game-changer.

“I feel a great sense of joy. We have acquired concrete tools to effectively supervise the principals of public elementary schools,” says Paul Richard Agele, a traveling inspector from Bunia. “We now have a solid foundation to raise the level of leadership in our public schools.”

Cécile Kahambu Lusenge, a traveling inspector for the urban primary sector in Bunia, shares this enthusiasm.

“I thank the Head of State, Minister Raïssa Malu, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), and the PEQIP project for their commitment. We hope this type of training becomes a regular occurrence, so that Ituri 1 can make sustainable progress.”

A Large-Scale Rollout No sooner had the training ended than attention turned to the next step: implementation in the field. Starting Friday, June 20, the ten inspector-trainers, now equipped with new skills, will be divided into pairs to conduct training sessions for public primary school principals in their respective sub-districts. Five sites have been selected to host these sessions, carefully chosen to ensure geographic balance and logistical accessibility. In total, 248 school principals are involved. Among them, 71 work in urban areas, while 177 come from rural or peri-urban areas, which often face complex challenges: lack of resources, remote locations, and administrative overload. The initiative is ambitious, and expectations are high. It is, quite simply, a matter of strengthening local school leadership, the cornerstone of a resilient education system. Cellcom PEQIP