Launch in the educational province of Haut-Katanga 1 of the campaign to raise the national colors in schools

 Joseph Mwinkeu Tshiend, director of the Haut-Katanga 1 educational province, accompanied by the provincial chief inspector, Nicolas Nyange Bizy, officially launched the flag-raising campaign in the province’s educational institutions on the morning of Tuesday, November 22.

The ceremony took place at the Anuarité private and accredited school complex in Lubumbashi, in the province of Haut-Katanga.

In his remarks for the occasion, the Director of the Haut-Katanga 1 Educational Province urged the students and school staff to strictly adhere to the guidelines and called on them to show greater love and attachment to the symbols of the nation.

“Moral and civic education is a form of education that engages students individually and collectively. It is carried out, as much as possible, through practical situations in the classroom and in school life, during which students experience meaning and value. The ultimate goal of moral education is therefore, beyond the teaching of legal rules, adherence to the values of the Republic. I am very pleased for you, because you have demonstrated your Congolese identity by speaking out in favor of your country. Our concern is also to accustom you to the practice of raising the national flag in school settings. Know this: it is here at school that you must learn patriotism and civic responsibility. Defend your homeland wherever you may be,” said the head of this educational province.

After the national anthem was played, Mr. Joseph Mwinkeu Tshiend met with the heads of educational institutions in his educational province.

He reminded them to strictly follow the instructions of the Ministry of Education, particularly by ensuring the continuation of this patriotic ceremony.

“If we are to teach students to love their homeland, it is first and foremost to convey to them the magnificent and tragic idea that it is a cause that gives value to our lives. This common cause elevates us and brings us into a humanity of rights and principles. The objective of this campaign is to bring students closer to loving and being attached to their homeland. “You are obligated to comply with this directive from the minister, which must be followed without exception,” he stated.

The raising of the flag in all schools will allow students to identify the symbols of the nation.

This practice, reinstated by the Minister of Education, Tony Mwaba Kazadi, in his circular No. MINEPST/CABMIN/SG/80/2200/2022, aims to strengthen patriotism among teachers and students through the national anthem and the salute to the flag each morning during the school assembly. This campaign is also intended to promote the country’s coat of arms.

National Symbols

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has three national symbols: the flag, the coat of arms, and the national anthem.

The flag is sky blue with a five-pointed star in the left corner. A red stripe, finely edged with yellow on both sides, crosses it diagonally from the upper right corner.

The sky blue symbolizes peace, the red stripe represents the blood of the martyrs, the yellow color signifies the country’s wealth, while the yellow star refers to a united country destined for a bright future.

The coat of arms features a leopard’s head in the center, an elephant’s ivory tusk on the left, and a spear resting on a rock on the right, flanking the leopard. The scroll at the bottom of the coat of arms bears the Congo’s motto: Justice, Peace, Work.

Through the title “Debout Congolais,” the anthem’s author sought to call upon the Congolese of yesteryear to rise up and put an end to Belgian imperialism.

Dan de Dieu Kayanda