Education and Health Challenges in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The education system in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is severely affected by low access and poor quality. An estimated 3.5 million children of primary school age are out of school, and among those who do attend, 44% start school late, often after the age of six.

Although children are eager to learn, many are forced to sit on the floor because schools lack desks and benches. In some cases, students bring chairs from their homes just to be able to sit during lessons. This situation is common, especially at the beginning of the school year in September.

At the start of each academic year, children are also required to bring bundles of thatch—made from straw, reeds, or palm leaves—to help repair the roofs of their schools. In the Congo, where there are up to nine months of rain every year, a strong and secure roof is essential for learning to continue.

Parents are therefore responsible for paying school fees. While these fees are modest by international standards, they remain a heavy burden for families:

• Elementary school (tuition, uniforms, supplies): about $40 per child per year
• Secondary school: about $50 per child per year

However, 71% of the Congolese population lives on less than one dollar a day, and most families have five or more children. As a result, even these small fees are extremely difficult to pay, leading many children to drop out or never attend school.

Medical Needs and Protection of Orphans

In addition to educational challenges, the medical needs of students in the DRC are critical. Jesus Promotion Church International has identified an urgent need for funding to:

• Rebuild existing hospitals
• Construct new hospitals
• Provide better medical equipment and infrastructure

To save the lives of vulnerable children, especially orphans, hospitals must also create orphanage units within hospital facilities. These units would ensure that orphans receive both medical care and education, giving them a chance to survive, heal, and build a future.