PAAF : Pre-validation of a new recruitment policy based on merit and equity

The Girls’ Learning and Empowerment Project (PAAF), funded by the World Bank, organized a pre-validation workshop on September 16 and 17, 2025, at the Center for Social Action Studies (CEPAS), to finalize a new recruitment policy for secondary school teachers. Objective: to place merit at the heart of the process to ensure the quality of education while encouraging greater participation by women. Guiding principles: merit, equity, and transparency The event, which brought together experts from the Ministry of National Education and representatives from the consulting firm Cayambe, highlighted the key values of this reform. According to Léonard Lwanga, a representative of the Human Resources Directorate, this policy aims to “establish a system where competence, integrity, and merit become the sole criteria for entry and advancement.” Alice Mutambayi, deputy coordinator of PAAF, outlined the three pillars of the project: • Equity: ensuring that every candidate has equal opportunities, regardless of their background. • Inclusion: ensuring that the teaching staff reflects the diversity of society. • Transparency: making the process clear and fair for all participants. A collaborative approach and clear steps The work was conducted in a participatory manner. Participants divided into three groups to address key aspects: selection criteria, the application and evaluation process, and appeal and oversight mechanisms. Jean-Louis Bisangilwa, technical coordinator of the Cayambe assistance program, praised the participants’ involvement, noting that the document had been “pre-validated with a few substantive and procedural comments.” ” This collaborative approach made it possible to gather essential feedback from those who will implement the policy on the ground. The next steps are already planned: 1. Immediately: The amended document will be sent to the PAAF team. The procedure manual for recruiting and integrating teachers into the payroll system will also be finalized next week. 2. In October: The team will produce the terms of reference for the teacher training module, thereby strengthening their professional skills. Awareness-raising and government commitment At the same time, Cayambe has launched a communication campaign to encourage more women to pursue a career in teaching, an essential effort to increase female participation in the education sector. This workshop is part of the DRC government’s vision to transform education. The Ministry of National Education has committed to investing in initial and continuing teacher training, a key strategy to ensure quality education accessible to all, in line with its five-year plan. The pre-validation of this new policy marks a significant step toward this ambitious goal. Marie Shomba