Since joining GPE in 2012, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has increased the primary school completion rate from 29% to 70%. Still, many students enrolled in primary school do not complete it, and around one-in-five of primary age children are out of school.
For those in school, 73% are not proficient in reading and 81% are not proficient in math. To unlock large-scale change, DRC is working with GPE and other partners to improve the quality of teachers and teaching.
Better trained and supported teachers – and an increase in the number of female teachers – are expected to enhance the learning environment, boost student performance, and create a more resilient education system.
The DRC aims to improve teachers’ mastery of disciplinary content as well as their ability to support vulnerable students. Additional measures to upgrade the profession include merit-based teacher recruitment, a quality assurance system, and improved social protections to support teacher retirement.
The government and partners are also improving infrastructure and equipment to make schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo a better place for teachers to work and for students to learn.