In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), access to education remains a daily challenge for millions of children due to poverty, family insecurity, and dilapidated school infrastructure. At the Makelele Catholic School in Kinshasa, 600 of the 700 students spend the entire school year sitting on the floor, as there are only enough desks for 100 children. Classrooms are overcrowded, textbooks are in short supply, and school buildings are in precarious condition.
The Catholic Church, a historic focal point for education in the DRC, faces increasing difficulties in maintaining its schools. Despite government decrees for free primary education, families face significant costs, such as uniforms, books, and transportation, which lead to a high dropout rate and child labor.
Teachers, driven by their vocation, continue to educate children in difficult conditions, convinced that education is the most effective tool to break the cycle of poverty. The Church calls on authorities, parents, and international partners to join forces to save the education system, warning that neglecting education risks compromising the future of entire generations and the stability of the country.
Read the full article by Nicaise Mundurame Mawete, CSsR, on CommonHome.tv , a media initiative of the Redemptorists of Australia-Oceania.
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