This archive report was first published on 8 September 2019.
President Felix Tshisekedi's promise to make primary education free in the Democratic Republic of Congo has sparked hope for millions of children who cannot afford the fees. The pledge, made in January, aims to allocate $2.6 billion (2.37 billion euros) to primary education, or 40 percent of the country's annual budget.
However, the government's ability to cover the costs of teachers' wages, facilities, and admission fees remains uncertain. "I don't know," Tshisekedi acknowledged during the inauguration of a new primary school in Kinshasa, adding that the pledge would be carried out across the country in a few months.
Despite the challenges, the World Bank has expressed optimism about the country's growth and finance potential. With 80 million hectares of arable land and over 1,100 listed minerals and precious metals, the DRC has the potential to become one of the richest economies on the continent.
However, the country's history of political instability and corruption has hindered its progress. In 2018, government debt accounted for 14.47 percent of the country's gross domestic product, while annual GDP per capita was put at $814. Some 73 percent of the population live in extreme poverty, the second worst rate south of the Sahara.
Despite these challenges, some state schools in Kinshasa have already implemented free education, with parents reporting a significant increase in attendance. "Dear parents, learning is free," a poster announced at the entrance to the 1 Ngaba primary school.
"This was an enormous burden because of our feeble income," said Isabel Kyese, a seamstress who benefited from the refund of a down payment she had made for her children's education.
While the primary education ministry has announced that classes will be free in 30,773 out of 51,574 schools, the success of the pledge remains uncertain. "Meritocracy is going to take charge," said a technology teacher, Ados Nsimba, highlighting the potential benefits of free education.
