Kinshasa, July 28th, 2025 (CPA).- More than 460,000 girls have begun the 2025 State Examination in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and abroad, according to an official statement from the Ministry of National Education and New Citizenship received by the CPA on Monday.
« Out of a total of 1,073,769 candidates registered nationwide, 461,184 are girls, representing 42.95% of all participants in the country. These figures illustrate a positive trend in girls’ access to secondary education in DRC, despite persistent challenges such as poverty, early marriage and insecurity in certain regions, » the statement said. According to the source, this participation of girls varies significantly between educational provinces, namely Sud-Kivu: Out of a total of 44,339 finalists, 22,290 are girls (50.2%); North Kivu 2 (Butembo): Among the 30,194 candidates, 15,108 are girls; Kasaï 1: Out of 20,031 finalists, 8,413 are girls, representing 42% of the total. The Minister in charge of National Education, Raïssa Malu, launched the 58th ordinary session of the State Examination at Don Bosco College in the commune of Masina, east of Kinshasa. This national exam will be held until Thursday July 31st, in 3,165 centers across the country and in five neighboring countries, including Angola, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and Tanzania. During these four days of exams, candidates will be assessed in subjects such as general knowledge, science, languages and specific options related to each field of study.