SSEF 2016-2025: 'With free education in place, we're now focusing on improving the quality of education'( Tony Mwaba)

Minister Tony Mwaba presided over the 25th weekly meeting, a tradition he has maintained since taking office as head of the EPST, which brings him together with all the leaders of this sub-sector of the national education system. This 25th meeting took place on Monday, October 23, 2023, in the meeting room of Radio-Télé de l’Éducation (RTEDUC), in the presence of Secretary General Christine Nepa-Nepa and Inspector General Jacques Odia Musungayi. Several items were on the agenda, notably the presentation of the action plan for the implementation of school cafeterias in pilot schools, as directed by the President of the Republic during the most recent Cabinet meeting. In his speech, the head of the EPST began by thanking the senior staff of the General Secretariat for their support in carrying out the ministry’s assigned missions. He then emphasized that the current priority must be the second pillar of the Sectoral Strategy for Education and Training (SSEF 2016–2025), which focuses on improving the quality of education, now that free education has become a given. “Following the success of free primary education in public schools, we will now focus on the document outlining the mechanisms and strategies for ensuring the quality of education,” stated the Minister of EPST. He added, “Today, and long before free education was mandated, there is a serious issue regarding the quality of education. I believe it is therefore time, especially since the Sectoral Strategy will come to an end in 2025. We risk reaching 2025 without the successful implementation of this Sectoral Strategy.” While Minister Tony Mwaba believes that free education has somewhat accelerated access to education—one of the pillars of the SSEF—he remained realistic about the number of challenges that remain regarding the effectiveness of this pillar. It should be noted that during this same meeting, the Secretary General of the EPST presented the action plan for the implementation of school cafeterias in pilot schools, as instructed to the minister by President Tshisekedi during the last cabinet meeting. Moïse Dianyishayi