PAAF: Launch in Mbanza-Ngungu of a workshop to equip the DRC with interactive digital textbooks, adapted to the requirements of the XXIᵉ century.

“A textbook that goes digital is knowledge that opens up without borders.” This phrase sums up the spirit that drove the opening, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, of a groundbreaking strategic workshop at the Cité universitaire de Mbanza-Ngungu in Kongo-Central. For five days, educational experts, digital engineers, textbook authors, Ministry representatives, and technical partners will examine the technical and pedagogical specifications for future interactive digital science textbooks. This is a first in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, made possible thanks to support from the World Bank as part of the Girls’ Learning and Empowerment Project (PAAF). The textbooks currently being designed will be developed using materials already available in print, PDF, or through the National Curriculum and will be enhanced with interactive elements, including educational videos, animations, exercise platforms, simulations, self-correcting activities, and other supplementary resources. These tools aim to modernize the school environment by enhancing the quality of learning, facilitating access to content, and promoting inclusive pedagogy. Speaking on behalf of the PAAF, Ms. AMIEP NTIL, head of Sub-Component 2.1 titled “Strengthening School Curricula and Teaching Materials,” highlighted the major significance of this digital transition.

“This innovation will enable us to update educational materials and provide secondary schools with modern resources tailored to the challenges of the 21st century, because when a book goes digital, learning becomes limitless and accessible everywhere,” she emphasized.

She stressed the importance of the online learning platforms and tools that the PAAF will deploy for the benefit of secondary schools. The work plan includes harmonizing technical and pedagogical standards, defining compatible formats and media, identifying constraints related to the conversion of physical textbooks, and finally developing an operational strategy for sustainable deployment. The benefits will extend to the entire education system, with priority implementation in the provinces targeted by the project: Kasai, Kasai-Central, Kasai-Oriental, South Kivu, North Kivu, Ituri, Kongo-Central, Kwilu, Lomami, and the City-Province of Kinshasa. It should be noted that this initiative is part of the momentum driven by Ms. Raïssa Malu, Minister of State for National Education and New Citizenship, whose ambition is to definitively usher Congolese schools into a phase of modernization and digitization, for an education system that is more inclusive, more effective, better aligned with contemporary needs, and accessible to as many people as possible. The ultimate goal is to equip Congolese students with tools suited to the demands of the 21st century. We will return to this topic. Pitié-Matondo, EDUC-TV