War of aggression: "Distance learning will be based on media such as radio, television and new technologies" (Raïssa Malu)

From now on, the conflict should no longer undermine the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s education system. With this in mind, Raïssa Malu, Minister of State and Minister of National Education and New Citizenship, announced the launch of a distance learning system for students living in conflict zones, such as those under occupation by the M23 rebels supported by Rwanda. She made the announcement during a joint press briefing with her colleague in charge of communication and media, Patrick Muyaya, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. This program, which will utilize media such as radio, television, and new information and communication technologies, will reach the most isolated areas while adapting to the local context. The primary objective is to ensure access to education for all children, despite the security crisis. Access to education for all

“Every lesson a child misses is a lost lesson. It is extremely difficult to make up for lost school time,” emphasized Raïssa Malu.

She noted that the ministry is currently working with technical, financial, and humanitarian partners to develop a program tailored to this new reality.

“We must identify what is essential, adapt it to the current situation (the shortened school year), and focus on the essentials to ensure appropriate learning,” she added.

Concrete Actions for Educational Continuity As part of this plan, several initiatives will be implemented, such as the creation of temporary learning spaces, the distribution of school kits, and psychosocial support for children and teachers, to name just a few. The government is also committed to rebuilding school infrastructure damaged by conflict. It should be noted that the security crisis in eastern DRC has deprived more than one million students of access to education. This initiative aims to salvage the school year and ensure educational continuity despite current challenges. Willy Kambulu