Kasai: PAAF trains female students in women's leadership and teaching careers

Awareness-raising workshops were held from February 2 to 4, 2026, in the province of Kasaï for female students receiving internship grants from the Girls’ Learning and Empowerment Project (PAAF), an initiative of the Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship implemented with support from the World Bank.

The sessions were held simultaneously at seven Teacher Training Colleges, including ISP Ilebo, ISP Luebo, ISP Kamwesha, ISP Kitangua, ISP Mweka, ISP Sud Banga, and ISP Tshikapa.

They are part of the Sectoral Strategy for Education and Training (SSEF 2016–2025), which advocates for an inclusive, equitable, and high-quality education system.

Over the course of three days, the workshops raised students’ awareness of opportunities in the teaching profession, the development of women’s leadership, and empowerment in the education sector.

The participants, who were in their first through third years of the Bachelor’s-Master’s-Doctorate (LMD) system and studied in the fields of Arts and Humanities as well as Natural and Exact Sciences, were mentored by trainers from the Ministries of Higher Education and National Education, the ISP, and provincial technical services.

Three main themes structured the discussions: the teaching profession and personal development; the skills and tools of modern teaching, particularly the use of ICT; and planning a career in teaching.

Presentations, testimonials, practical exercises, and discussions enabled the students to better understand career advancement opportunities, the importance of work-life balance, and the role of women’s leadership in the Congolese education system.

At the conclusion of the sessions, several participants expressed renewed motivation, greater self-confidence, and a desire to commit to teaching as agents of change.

The workshops also served to raise awareness of the toll-free hotline 178, a free and confidential service for reporting cases of abuse, harassment, or sexual exploitation, particularly in educational settings.

This initiative is part of the commitment by the Congolese government and its partners to ensure a safe learning environment, particularly for girls.

Through the PAAF, which will continue to be implemented through 2028, the DRC government, with support from the World Bank, aims to increase the presence of women in secondary education and promote inclusive, equitable, and quality education.

The closing ceremony was marked by moments of sharing and camaraderie, offering a glimpse of a generation of young women who are better prepared, inspired, and determined to contribute to the future of education in the DRC.

CELLCOM / PAAF