Kinshasa: August 4th, 2026 (CPA). – The National Programme for Educational Catch-up has been strengthened following a workshop to draw up the Annual Budgeted Work Plan (PTA) aiming to integrate out-of-school children, held in Mbanza-Ngungu, Kongo Central, in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), official sources has reported on Tuesday. “This workshop marks the transition from planning to action to enable excluded children to return to school. This project reinforces the National School Re-entry Programme and non-formal education,” has declared Eve Bazaiba, Minister of State in charge of Social Affairs.
“The work of his ministry is based on three pillars: bringing back smiles, comforting families and restoring hope,” she has added, noting that education remains the greatest asset a nation can pass on to its children. Ms Bazaiba has called for a governance based on transparency, accountability and a commitment to results. She has reminded us that the armed conflicts, population displacements and wars of aggression to which DRC has been subjected for several decades continue to deprive many children of their right to education.
She has explained that this initiative forms part of the vision of the President of the Republic, Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, which is based on the development of human capital, equitable access to basic social services and the promotion of young people. Organised from August 2nd to 5th by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Ministry in charge of Social Affairs, National Solidarity and Humanitarian Action, and with funding from the Government of Japan, this event brings together stakeholders from the non-formal education sub-sector, the national education sector and representatives of civil society.