Kwilu: the heads of schools urged to adhere to the timetable

Bandundu, August 27^th, 2026 (CPA). – The school administrators and head teachers in Bandundu, Kwilu, in the south-west of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), have been urged on Thursday to adhere to the primary and secondary school calendar in preparation for the start of the 2026–2027 academic year, during a working session. “The purpose of this meeting is to provide guidance on the education sector’s directives and instructions regarding the start of the 2026–2027 school year. The official start date for the school year is scheduled for September 1st, 2026. You must adhere to the school calendar; from the very first day, your teachers must be present at school early in the morning to welcome the pupils. I will be out in the field myself to ensure this happens,” has declared Benedicte Abukani, head of the EPSP’s urban sub-division in Bandundu. “The parents are free to buy school supplies at the market of their choice. I warn any schools that attempt to force pupils to buy school kits from within the school itself,” she has added. She has noted that sanctions provided for by law will be imposed on managers found to be at fault, before emphasizing that enrolment is free of charge. On this occasion, she has urged parents to send their children to school from the very first day of the new term, for the children’s own well-being.ACP/