Kasaï: In Tshikapa, Raïssa Malu reiterates her commitment to improving teachers' socio-professional conditions

The Minister of State, Minister of National Education and New Citizenship, Raïssa Malu, has been in the city of Tshikapa in Kasaï since Saturday, August 31, on a two-part official mission following the launch of the 2024–2025 school year and the Girls’ Learning and Empowerment Project (PAAF), funded by the World Bank to the tune of 400 million U.S. dollars. Upon her arrival at the provincial governor’s office, the Minister of State chaired a working session with provincial administrative and educational authorities on the functioning of the sub-sector in this part of the country. On this occasion, she was informed of several problems plaguing the sub-sector, notably the lack of salaries for New Unit (NU) and Unpaid (NP) teachers; the operation of certain schools without official decrees; the withholding of a portion of teachers’ salaries by banks; and the need for teachers to travel every month to the city of Tshikapa to collect their salaries. After listening to everyone, the Minister of State reassured her audience that she is aware of all the issues raised, as they were discussed during the recent sessions of the Annual Performance Review and the Joint Government-Teachers’ Union Commission. For this reason, she instructed the national education delegates in the province to submit concrete proposals to her within a reasonable timeframe, specifically to facilitate the payment of teachers’ salaries. In this regard, the proposals will focus on negotiating with other banks capable of ensuring these payments within the province. These proposals must also be developed to address all other issues encountered in the sub-sector within the administrative province of Kasaï so that sustainable solutions can be found. Furthermore, Raïssa Malu called for a collective effort to improve teachers’ socio-professional conditions, the quality of education, and the effective governance of the administration. It should be noted that the Minister of State will kick off the 2024–2025 school year on Monday, September 2, at Tshikunga High School in Dibumba 2. On the same day, she will also launch the Girls’ Learning and Empowerment Project (PAAF), funded by the World Bank. Ivan Honoré Mudiangombé