South Kivu 1: Postponed due to insecurity, the special session of the preliminary examination for self-taught students took place on March 25.

The special session of the preliminary exam for self-taught candidates took place on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, in the South Kivu 1 educational province. A total of 301 candidates, including 164 girls, took the exam, spread across six of the eight designated testing centers. Although several centers were unable to open their doors—notably in the Kabare 2 and Walungu 4 subdivisions—due to violent clashes between Wazalendo patriots and the Rwandan army operating under the guise of the M23, some candidates had to travel to Bukavu to take the exam. The Director of the South Kivu 1 Educational Province, Léon Tosweswe, who confirmed this information to the editorial staff of the Communication Management Directorate of the Ministry of National Education, is calling for enhanced security as well as for the central government to cover the candidates’ participation fees.

“To ensure the safety of operations, the exam, and the participants, a ceasefire must be observed in the province pending a definitive resolution of the conflict. The government of the Republic should also cover the costs of participation in the certification exams,” stated Provincial Education Director Léon Tosweswe.

It should be noted that the government, through the Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship, remains determined to address security challenges to ensure the success of these exams, despite the difficult situation. Willy Kambulu