Persia: trainers from Tshangu and Plateau receive training on managing school operating costs

The government of the DRC, through the Perse Project (Project for Equity and Strengthening of the Education System), is continuing its efforts to strengthen the management system in public schools. It is within this framework that Perse is organizing a training-of-trainers program for participants from Tshangu and Plateau, focusing specifically on the management of operating costs, the Complaint Management Mechanism (CMM), environmental management (hygiene, health, and safety), and civic engagement. Over the course of five days, from August 17 to 21, 2023, the 35 participants in this training will acquire the necessary knowledge to, in turn, train school principals and administrators, School Management Committees (COGES), and Parent-Teacher Associations (COPA). At the opening of this event, discussions focused primarily on the management of operating funds allocated to schools by the public treasury. This topic was addressed through three subtopics: budget forecasting, the use of operating funds, and the presentation of accounting documents. Regarding the preparation of the budget forecast, for example, participants were asked about the steps involved in developing this forecast, its components, and the role of COPA and COGES in its preparation. During the training, exercises (pre-tests) were given to participants to encourage their engagement, attentiveness, and to enhance their knowledge of the material over the five-day period. It should be noted that the development, implementation, and management of a fair operating cost program are part of the Disbursement-Linked Indicators (DLIs) that the Perse project has established to enable disbursements in support of the Congolese education system by the World Bank. Thierry Mbebangu