Overview of the General Education System

Prior to 1960, Religious missionaries dominated the educational system in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The missionary schools emphasized literacy and religious instruction, with early instruction in local languages and later in French. Education was very limited, serving primarily colonial needs. The government introduced a national education system after the country attained independence in the 1960s. Children entered the primary school, and the curriculum was reformed to include subjects promoting Congolese identity. But from the 1980s until the early 2000s, education suffered statues as a result of economic slump and civil strife. Budgets were cut; millions of children went without education and families were forced to pay for their children to get educated. The government responded by introducing free primary education in 2010, and millions more children have been enrolled. Education today is overseen through ministries and with the help of international partners such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Unite Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), and the World Bank.

Democratic Republic of Congo inherited French as an official language because of a long history of Belgium occupation. In the field of education, French is the medium of instruction from secondary education, particularly in urban areas. Four national languages—Lingala, Swahili, Kikongo (Kituba), and Tshiluba—are used regionally. They are often used in early education for the purpose of promoting literacy and inclusion and often spoken in the local media and in daily and social activities but have no official status in legal and national policy.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, education is the joint responsibility of three main ministries with clearly defined areas of responsibilities. Basic and technical education is the responsibility of the Ministère de l’Éducation Nationale et Nouvelle Citoyenneté (MINEDU-NC). It oversees pre-primary, primary and secondary education as well as technical and vocational education, and also promotes civic education with a view to strengthening values that support justice and solidarity. Ministère de l’Enseignement Supérieur et Universitaire (MESU) is in charge of higher education, academic standards and international cooperation. MESU is also in charge of degree recognition, innovation support and research institution development. Meanwhile, Ministère des Affaires Sociales, Actions Humanitaires et Solidarité Nationale (MINAS) directs inclusive and non-formal education. In doing so it also opens up to learners with disabilities, help vulnerable groups like street-connected children and displaced families, and raises adult literacy and life skills through community programs. These three ministries together mold the educational system of the country.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo uses a 6-2-4 education system with six years of primary education and two years of junior secondary and four years of senior secondary. Preprimary education for three- to five-year-olds is not compulsory and is generally available only in urban centers. Primary education for ages six to eleven is officially free and compulsory since 2010. At the completion of the primary education students sit the TENAFEP examination which is a locally administered examination to enter junior secondary school. The junior secondary level, for students who are usually twelve or thirteen, consists of general education as preparation for senior secondary, and vocational training. The national standardized Examen d’État is taken at the end of the year and successful completion allows students to graduate and proceed to higher education. Vocational programs, which provide an alternative to an academic curriculum, offer diplomas or certificates in skilled trades. The higher education system consists of universities, teacher training colleges and technical institutions and private higher education, with access for postsecondary studies based on performance at Examen d’État and institutional regulations.