Kinshasa, June 2nd, 2025, (CPA) – The signing of the inter -ministerial order reducing academic and accommodation fees to 50% for students living with disabilities in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in all higher education and university establishments was the subject of a meeting between the Minister in charge of ESU and PLHIV.
‘As part of the implementation of Organic Law No. 22/003 on the protection and promotion of the rights of people living with disabilities and other vulnerable people, the Minister of Higher and University Education, Professor Marie-Thérèse Sombo, and I, the Minister Delegate in charge of people living with disabilities and other vulnerable people, signed an agreement on this day, today, Monday 02 June 2025, signed an inter-ministerial order reducing academic fees and accommodation to 50% for disabled students in all higher education and university establishments in the Democratic Republic of Congo’, said Irène Esambo Diata, Minister Delegate in charge of people living with disabilities and other vulnerable people. ‘This inter-ministerial decree, which will come into force at the start of the next academic year, is a concrete expression of the vision of Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Republic, for inclusive, fair and equitable education for all in the Democratic Republic of Congo’, she added.
For her part, Professor Marie-Thérèse Sombo, Minister of ESU, said she was pleased to see the effectiveness of this decree, which comes into force next academic year, adding that she would see to its implementation. ‘And I believe that the President of the Republic, the Grand Chancellor of the universities and higher institutes and our Captain, the Prime Minister, will be proud of us, and especially of you, because we have the right person in the right place,’ she said. The beneficiaries of this decision, notably the PLHIV students from the University of Kinshasa, the National Educational University and the Gombe Higher Pedagogical Institute, who were represented at the ceremony, did not fail to express their thanks to the Head of State, who has valued people living with disabilities since his accession to office. They also expressed their gratitude to the Prime Minister, who has never ceased to support the Minister in charge, who has put into practice the President’s vision of social inclusion for people with disabilities, and to the head of ESU, Professor Marie-Thérèse Sombo, for her involvement.