Kinshasa, June 28th, 2026 (CPA).- The implementation of urgent measures aimed at improving accessibility and inclusive education for learners with disabilities was the focus of an awareness campaign held on Saturday in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), by the Coordination of Bondeko Village Schools, organizers said. « We want children with and without disabilities to learn to live together. That is the main challenge, but it will only be possible when the entire community understands that disability is a societal issue, » said Martin Lusambila, Secretary-General of the NGO Parousia.
According to him, collective acceptance remains the central challenge, while numerous obstacles continue to persist, including discrimination, stigma, inadequate infrastructure and insufficient training for teachers. « A teacher who does not master sign language will not be able to properly support a deaf child. Likewise, a teacher unfamiliar with Braille will face difficulties assisting a visually impaired learner, » he explained.
« Despite the free primary education policy implemented nationwide, these specific barriers continue to exclude many children with disabilities from the school system, » Mr. Lusambila lamented. In light of this situation, he called on educational authorities to strengthen accessibility measures in order to make schools genuinely open to all. He also welcomed the DRC’s legal progress in the area, citing the country’s accession to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the adoption of an organic law, and the creation of a ministry dedicated to persons with disabilities. « What is needed now is the mobilization of all stakeholders to guarantee accessible education from primary school through university, » the Secretary-General of Parousia insisted. For his part, Father Pierre Mavakala, coordinator of the Bondeko reception centers, stated that responsibility for inclusion rests entirely with society.
« It is not the responsibility of persons with disabilities to adapt to society. Rather, society must create accessibility mechanisms that enable children with disabilities to enter classrooms and fully participate in school life, » he said. Regarding the inclusive education model, parents of children with disabilities, particularly those enrolled at Bondeko Village, praised the approach as a powerful tool for social transformation. « At first, I was reluctant to send my child here. I tried regular schools, but it did not work. A school principal referred me to Bondeko, and since then there has been a remarkable change. I believe this inclusive education model is a powerful lever for social transformation, » said the mother of one of the pupils attending Bondeko Village. She particularly highlighted the significant progress her son had made in daily independence. « Before, I was still bathing him when he was 12 years old. Today, he can do many things on his own, and his academic performance has improved, » she said with satisfaction. The activity, which started from Kingabwa Primary School 1 in the municipality of Limete, central Kinshasa, and ended at Point Chaud, was conducted under the slogan « Sound the Alarm. » Organized by the Coordination of Bondeko Village Schools, the event formed part of a campaign held under the theme: « Ensuring School Inclusion for Children with Disabilities: A Commitment to the Future of the DRC.« The initiative, which received financial support from the Liliane Foundation, concluded with the symbolic distribution of wheelchairs to several children to facilitate their mobility and improve their access to classrooms.