Students returned to school on Monday in the DRC. This new school year was placed under the sign of the consolidation of free primary education, a flagship program of Félix Tshisekedi and one of the priorities of the government. According to the Prime Minister, this policy has enabled more than 4 million students to enter or re-enter the school system. This year again, the challenges remain significant. How to support these new students when the infrastructure does not follow?
With our correspondent in Kinshasa, Patient Ligodi
First day of class at Sainte Anne primary school, in the town of Gombe. Rebecca is reassured: the names of her four children are included on the final list of registered students. However, like many parents, Rebecca also wondered about the seating capacity of the classrooms. “ We were worried. Now the manager has reassured us. He said he will take into account the number of students in the room. »
Jackson Luyilisa Nyanga is the principal of Sainte Anne Primary School. He experienced tense discussions with parents whose children cannot be registered for lack of places. “ We have terrible pressure from parents. They believe that everyone should benefit from free education. Unfortunately, the school cannot accommodate all these students. This is our difficulty. »
Some classes have increased from 50 to 60 students. So that this over-staffing does not reduce the quality of education, school teachers and mistresses have had to adapt. ” Before the start of the school year, the teachers had taken the training on class management. What methods to use when you have a class of over 50 students ? For example, teaching by group methods so that everyone participates in each didactic sequence. »
According to the authorities, this year, nearly 31 million students are expected in the classrooms. The government has launched a so-called development project for 145 territories in the country. This program also includes the construction of new schools component.