MINEDU-NC - Kinshasa - Lukunga: Hubert Kimbonza revitalizes the inspection trilogy

After visiting Kinshasa - Plateau, Tshangu, and Mont Amba, Hubert Kimbonza, Inspector General of National Education and New Citizenship (EDU-NC), accompanied by PROVED Wivine Mude and IPP Vital Lumbala, met with inspectors from the Kinshasa Educational Province - Lukunga, on Monday, January 13, 2025, during an educational session focused on revitalizing school inspection.

"We are here to revitalize and reorganize our team. I have come to tell my colleagues that we must take matters into our own hands, maintain a permanent presence in schools, and carry out our work in accordance with our three-point framework, as outlined in Ordinance 91-231 of August 15, 1991," stated Hubert Kimbonza.

In his remarks, the Inspector General of EDU-NC noted that the three-pronged approach requires inspectors to monitor instruction in all official and unofficial schools, provide ongoing training for teaching staff to help them adapt to pedagogical innovations, and conduct educational evaluations. On this issue, he emphasized that inspectors must do their work without expecting monetary compensation during C7 monitoring, nor in the organization of testing centers for certification exams, nor to favor students who do not deserve to be called recipients or graduates in the days to come.

It was also an opportunity for the head of the inspectors’ corps to tell his colleagues to enforce the formal ban on “maquis,” a way of urging them to stay vigilant so that this measure is respected.

"We no longer want to hear about the phenomenon of 'maquis.' We have been clear on this issue. The PROVED and the IPP have been instructed. If we hear of 'maquis' anywhere, the two provincial authorities will be required to hand over to us their staff members who are supposed to be conducting oversight in that specific area. Our goal is to bring about a positive transformation of the inspection system," he said.

Hubert Kimbonza also reiterated the values that must guide the selection of personnel for various positions, following the example of Minister of State Raïssa Malu, whom he appointed without spending a single Congolese franc.

"An English inspector who had been selected to work alongside me to translate certain texts has passed away. Faced with this challenge, I showed my colleagues how the selection process should be conducted, without regard to our tribal, ethnic, provincial, or religious affiliations. We selected a fellow inspector today, objectively, and everyone was satisfied. As of now, I still do not know which province this inspector is from. But it is based on his merits and skills that he will work alongside me as deputy chief inspector," he stated.

The Inspector General urged his staff to also focus on primary education, which must remain free in public schools, the fight against anti-values, which must be a mindset, the integration of ICT into education, as well as equity and inclusion in the EDU-NC sub-sector, in accordance with the five-year plan of Minister of State Raïssa Malu.

Well before the head of the corps, the IPP of Kinshasa—Lukunga Vital Lumbala—congratulated the Inspector General on his initiative to bring all inspectors together and mobilize them for their noble duties.

“Mr. Inspector General, through this act, you have shown yourself to be a good shepherd close to his flock, comforting them so that you lose none of them. The objective of this visit, in our view, is to prepare your team for quality work. This attitude is that of a good leader,” he said.