International Day of Women and Girls in Science: EPST remains committed to promoting gender equality in science

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on February 11 each year. This day highlights the importance of gender equality in the sciences. “Closing the gender gap in science: accelerating action” is the theme chosen for this 9th edition by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the government, through its Ministry of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education (EPST), remains committed to promoting gender equality in scientific fields by providing free primary education. To achieve this, the Ministry of EPST has removed the barriers that limit girls’ access to education, training, employment, and decision-making in scientific fields. To contribute to girls’ education, the World Bank plans to implement the Girls’ Learning and Empowerment Project (PAAF) from 2024 to 2028. The project aims to promote safe and equitable access to education, with a particular focus on girls’ enrollment. The PAAF will also enable the recruitment of 5,000 new female teachers in public secondary schools and the establishment of a model for safe and inclusive schools benefiting girls and women. It should be noted that, according to the geolocation database of secondary schools, girls account for 42% of students in the DRC. Marie-France Pala