Exetat 2024: Prime Minister Judith Tuluka launches tests for 968,304 candidates

Prime Minister Judith Suminwa Tuluka officially launched the 2023–2024 State Examination on Monday, June 24, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The official ceremony was held at Lycée Mgr Shaumba, in the Kinshasa-Lukunga educational province. A total of 968,304 final-year students are taking this national exam, spread across 2,960 testing centers throughout the country. In her address, Minister of State and Minister of National Education and New Citizenship (MINEDN-NC), Raïssa Malu, first praised the unwavering commitment of President Felix Antoine Tshisekedi to implementing free primary education, and to Prime Minister Judith Suminwa for placing national education and new citizenship at the heart of the government’s action plan, before assuring that this exam is being administered in all 60 educational provinces of the DRC as well as abroad. "The exams for the regular session of the State Examination and the National Board for the 2024 academic cycle begin this Monday, June 24, in all 60 educational provinces as well as abroad. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the central government for covering the participation fees for final-year students taking the certification exams throughout the province of North Kivu...962,887 students from the long cycle, of whom approximately 42 percent are girls, and 5,417 candidates from the short cycle, of whom 18.5 percent are girls, are participating. They are spread across 2,960 testing centers," stated State Minister Raïssa Malu. Furthermore, she called on participants to remain calm and respect the rules. She also urged the entire educational community to act responsibly and avoid all forms of cheating. “These practices harm our children’s future and the integrity of our educational system,” she stated. Provincial Chief Inspectors (IPPs) have been instructed to ensure that the answer sheets are sent to the national grading center within the allotted time frame. Beginning this Monday, these national certification exams will conclude on Thursday, June 27, 2024, spanning a total of four days. Willy Kambulu