EXETAT 2025: Raïssa Malu launches the preliminary test

Raïssa Malu, Minister of State and Minister of National Education and New Citizenship (EDU-NC), launched the preliminary round of the 2025 State Exam and National Board for the Short Cycle on Friday, March 7, 2025. Today’s ceremony took place at the Institut de la Gombe 1, in the Kinshasa/Lukunga educational province.

It was before officials and self-taught candidates, who had turned out in large numbers, that Minister of State Raïssa Malu delivered her speech. The head of the EDU-NC sub-sector first emphasized that this moment brings both hope and challenges. "Hope," because despite a difficult context, the Congolese education system is moving forward, ensuring access to certifications for all. "Challenges," because the trials the country is facing—marked by conflict—are impacting education, particularly through the destruction of schools, and the obstacles some compatriots face in accessing the preliminary round of the State Exam.

"Our deepest thoughts go out to the candidates from the educational provinces of North Kivu 1 and South Kivu 1, who are temporarily unable to participate in this session. The government, mindful of its duty, will organize a special session so that no candidate is deprived of their right to education," she stated.

Raïssa Malu then reiterated that education is at the heart of national development and constitutes one of the major pillars of the Ministry of EDU-NC’s 2024–2029 Five-Year Plan, which places particular emphasis on improving access to quality education, modernizing the education system, and fostering a new sense of citizenship based on commitment, ethics, and respect for republican values. It is within this framework, she noted, that Head of State Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo has made education a national priority.

Addressing the candidates specifically, the Minister of State noted that their decision to take this exam requires great discipline, intellectual independence, and a keen sense of personal effort.

"Dear candidates, you have prepared for this exam with seriousness and determination. Stay focused, demonstrate intellectual honesty, and give it your all. You are not only the builders of your own future, but also the citizens who will uphold the values that will bring glory to our nation," she concluded.

After her speech, the head of the EDU-NC sub-sector visited several exam rooms to distribute materials, wishing the self-taught candidates an excellent exam and every success. Raïssa Malu was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of National Education and New Citizenship, Jean-Pierre Kezamudru; the Provincial Minister of Education for the City of Kinshasa, Jeannot Canon; the Inspector General of National Education and New Citizenship, Hubert Kimbonza; the Provincial Director (PROVED) of Kinshasa/ Lukunga Wivine Mude, and the Principal Provincial Inspector (IPP) of Kinshasa/Lukunga, Vital Lumbala.

This year, 13,242 candidates registered for the long cycle took the preliminary exam, spread across 259 testing centers throughout the country’s 60 educational provinces. For the short cycle, 76 candidates were registered in 15 centers, while 17 candidates will take the exam at the two centers outside the country’s borders, located in Angola, in Kabinda and Luanda.

Compared to the previous year, there was an increase of 1,475 candidates for the long cycle, representing a 12.5 percent rise, and an increase of 17 candidates for the short cycle.

Christian BELLA