Contact: Alexandra Humme at ahumme@globalpartnership.org
WASHINGTON, D.C., November 4, 2015 --- The Republic of Congo joined the Global Partnership for Education as the 61st partner country. Working with GPE partners based Congo, the country has articulated its education priorities for the coming 10 years, including improving education for hundreds of thousands of Congolese children.
Congo joins the Global Partnership with its Education Sector Strategy for 2015-2025, which aims to give all children a ten-year quality basic education, ensure that education addresses the human resource needs of the growing economy, and improve the efficiency of the education system. The country received a GPE grant of $250,000 in 2014 to prepare its education sector plan.
“We welcome the Republic of Congo to the Global Partnership for Education. We are strongly committed to working with the government and its partners to ensure that all Congolese children receive a quality basic education, including the most marginalized,” said Alice Albright, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Partnership for Education.
«On behalf of the Government of Congo I thank the Global Partnership for Education, not only because of the good news on my country’s joining this global education platform, but also for the technical support we benefited from highly skilled and committed staff from the Global Partnership for Education» said Anatole Collinet MAKOSSO, Minister of primary, secondary and literacy education, youth and civil education.
The Congolese Education Sector Strategy 2015-2025 is implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Literacy Education, Youth and Civil Education. It lays out a roadmap for progress in the education sector going forward.
« My country expects this new partnership to last through regular advice on implementation as well as funding, especially during these crunch times where the economy of Congo is significantly affected by the drop of fuel prices on the global market », added the minister.
The development of the sector plan has been supported by the local education group comprising the education ministry, civil society partners like students’ and parents’ associations, teachers and students trade unions, FAWE Congo and other development partners, including UNICEF as the coordinating agency, the World Bank as GPE grant agent, UNESCO, the World Food Program and AFD, the French Development Agency.
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The Global Partnership for Education works with 61 partner countries to ensure that every child receives a quality basic education, prioritizing the poorest, the most vulnerable and those living in fragile and conflict-affected countries.
The Global Partnership mobilizes financing for education and supports partner countries to build effective education systems founded on evidence-based planning and policies. Established in 2002 as the Education For All Fast Track Initiative, the Global Partnership has evolved into an independently governed partnership of governments, civil society, multilateral organizations, private sector and foundations.