Paris, March 6:UNESCO has announced a significant investment in education in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), aimed at improving the quality of primary school education.
The initiative, supported by Agence Française de Développement (AFD), will focus on enhancing the training of primary school teachers, particularly in reading, writing, and mathematics, and increasing women’s access to the teaching profession.
Under the agreement signed on Tuesday, €9 million will be allocated to support these initiatives, which are part of the Global Partnership for Education. The move comes as part of UNESCO’s commitment to addressing education challenges across the African continent, as highlighted by the African Union’s dedication of 2024 to education.
Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, emphasized the importance of teacher training and support in ensuring access to quality education for all children. “UNESCO’s new initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo underline our resolute commitment to supporting all the continent’s states in overcoming education challenges,” said Azoulay.
Rémy Rioux, Chief Executive Officer of AFD, highlighted the significance of the partnership between France and the DRC in prioritizing education. “It is essential to combine our expertise and experiences to support access to education in RDC and to contribute to the reduction of inequalities and vulnerabilities,” added Rioux.
Despite significant progress in increasing access to primary education in the DRC, challenges remain in ensuring the quality of teaching. Nearly one-third of children do not complete primary school, and a large percentage of pupils fail to meet minimum standards in reading and mathematics.
To address these challenges, UNESCO will implement two four-year projects focusing on improving teacher training and motivation.
The projects will emphasize core disciplines such as reading, writing, and mathematics, and aim to harmonize initial and in-service training around a common set of professional skills.
Additionally, efforts will be made to encourage women to enter the teaching profession through training in gender issues and specific actions to promote gender diversity in education staff.
More than 13,000 teachers, 1,500 school principals, and 600 education inspectors are expected to benefit from UNESCO’s initiatives.
The implementation agreement was signed at UNESCO headquarters by Audrey Azoulay and Rémy Rioux.
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