Education Unions Unite for Greater Investment in Public Education
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Loading... - Anthony Odoi
- 24 Dec 2024
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In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), education unions are coming together to advocate for public education and counter the growing trend of privatization in the education sector. Under the banner of the Education International (EI) campaign Go Public! Fund Education, these unions aim to enhance the quality of public education, improve the status of the teaching profession, expand access to free schooling, and raise awareness about the challenges posed by privatization.
Recent research conducted by three major education unions affiliated with Education International—CSC-Enseignement, FENECO-UNTC, and SYECO—highlights the detrimental effects of privatization on the Congolese education system. Funded by the CSQ, the trade union center of Quebec, the study, led by researcher Hervé Nlandu Mayamba, calls for a significant increase in the public education budget to address the shortcomings of private schools and the state's inability to meet educational demands. It notes a decline in the quality of public schooling since the 1970s and emphasizes the urgent need for strategies to reduce the reliance on privatized education.
The study outlines several recommendations, including improving the quality of state schools, increasing the education budget—which currently represents less than 3% of GDP—and planning for public education development, particularly in urban areas facing demographic pressures. It also suggests removing private schools that fail to meet legal standards and amending national education legislation to tighten conditions for opening new private institutions. Additionally, the unions propose utilizing revenues from natural resources and contributions from the Congolese diaspora to fund education.
To mobilize resources for public education, the Go Public! Fund Education campaign has been launched, emphasizing the importance of investing in education as a fundamental human right. The campaign calls for increased investment in teachers, who are crucial for achieving quality education. This includes ensuring labor rights, good working conditions, manageable workloads, and competitive salaries for educators. The campaign also advocates for valuing teachers' expertise and involving them in decision-making processes.
A workshop held from December 11 to 14, 2023, in Kinshasa aimed to build the capacity of 24 trade union leaders from the three unions. Topics covered included education sector planning, budgeting, free education, and the role of Education International. The workshop focused on developing effective strategies for the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, particularly in the context of the DRC's decentralized education system.
Since 2017, with support from EI, CSQ, and STU (Sweden), the unions have established study circles in 12 provinces, involving over 200 schools and more than 2,000 education workers. These circles aim to improve education quality and strengthen trade unionism through training, awareness campaigns, and meetings with local authorities. They are now being leveraged to anchor the campaign at the grassroots level.
In addition to grassroots efforts, the unions have organized radio and television broadcasts and published articles to reach a broader audience across Kinshasa and six other provinces. Advocacy efforts have also included a working lunch on May 24, 2024, with members of the new Parliament to discuss education issues and the importance of investing in public education. During this meeting, the unions presented the findings of their research on privatization and proposed measures to enhance the living standards and working conditions of teachers.
The overarching goal of this campaign is to mobilize the necessary resources for adequate funding of public education in the DRC, empowering unions to run effective campaigns and deepening their understanding of the issues related to free education. Through these collective efforts, the unions hope to secure a brighter future for public education in the country.
