Molakisi Telema project: Minister of State Raïssa Malu lays the foundation stone for the Institut de Formation au Métier de l'Enseignement in Mbanza-Ngungu

Raïssa Malu, Minister of State and Minister of National Education and New Citizenship, laid the cornerstone for the Institute for Teacher Training (IFME) in Mbanza-Ngungu, in the province of Kongo Central, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. This initiative is part of the “Molakisi Telema” project, in line with the third principle of the ministry’s five-year plan, which calls for massive investment in teacher training and professional development to improve the quality of education in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Funded to the tune of 10 million euros by the French government, via the French Development Agency (AFD), this five-year project will serve as a model for the creation of other similar centers across the country.

“Today we are taking a significant step forward in modernizing teacher training in the DRC. The launch of the Molakisi Telema project and the laying of the cornerstone for the IFME demonstrate our commitment to strengthening the professionalism of teachers, an essential prerequisite for quality education,” stated Raïssa Malu. She noted that this program aims to enhance skills, improve the work environment, and elevate the status of the teaching profession.

The IFME will be a modern facility with a capacity of 360 students, featuring a lecture hall, an 80-bed dormitory reserved for young women, nine fully equipped classrooms, a computer lab, a library, and sports facilities. The building will adhere to the principles of bioclimatic architecture and incorporate digital technology as well as distance learning.

“Significant challenges regarding quality remain in our education system. They require appropriate infrastructure, well-trained teachers, and modernized governance. By laying this cornerstone, we affirm our shared commitment to providing every child with an education that empowers them to take action, understand the world, and contribute to our nation’s development,” the minister added.

The center’s mission will be to enhance teacher professionalization and increase the appeal of teaching careers. It will also offer continuing education and mentoring programs to support teachers throughout their careers. The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the French ambassador to the DRC and local officials, underscoring the strategic importance of this project for the future of the Congolese education system. Célestin Zeula