Joint Commission Government - Trade Union Bench: Raïssa Malu enquires about the progress of the work

Saturday, August 17, 2024, was a day that allowed Raïssa Malu, Minister of State and Minister of National Education and New Citizenship, to kill two birds with one stone. After closing the annual meeting to evaluate school inspection activities in Ayongo Village in the commune of N’sele, the head of the education sector immediately traveled to Venus Village to inquire about the progress of the Government-Union Joint Commission meeting.

Upon her arrival, Raïssa Malu visited the four subcommittees that are deliberating on improving the socio-professional conditions of Congolese teachers and are also studying ways to improve the quality of education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Members of the "Career and Retirement" subcommittee informed the Minister of State that the partial implementation of the laws governing the teaching profession leaves the profession in a precarious position. They formulated recommendations to be submitted to the plenary session, particularly in light of the President of the Republic’s directive, who, during the 6th Meeting of the Council of Ministers, had instructed that teachers be granted the status of public servants.

The subcommittee on “Special Status of Teachers” reported to the head of the education sector on the progress of their discussions, while noting some disagreements observed during the exchanges.

The "Health and School Cafeteria" subcommittee and the "Compensation" subcommittee, presented to the Minister of State, Minister of EDU-NC, the objectives pursued by their respective groups—demands grounded in the commitments made by the Government of the Republic in March 2024 and the development of a roadmap for priority actions for the start of the 2024–2025 school year.

At the end of her visit, Raïssa Malu met with the medical team responsible for the health of the government and union delegations. Every evening, this team conducts visits to the accommodations of participants staying at the Venus Village in Bibwa, a precaution that remains an innovation of the Ministry of EDU-NC, the organizer of these proceedings. 

For the record, during the previous joint committee meeting, there was no medical team, and history will note that a participant died.

Christian BELLA