Kinshasa, February 2022.

In a significant step towards fortifying the fight against corruption in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Centre de Recherche sur l’Anti-Corruption (CERC) marked a historic milestone in 2022. CERC signed a memorandum of understanding with the African Parliamentarians Against Corruption network, outlining an ambitious agenda to reform the education sector in the country.

This landmark agreement is set to play a pivotal role in reshaping the educational landscape of the DRC, as it aims to develop two crucial draft laws. These laws are instrumental in the integration of Integrity Clubs and integrity education within the nation’s educational framework.

The integration of Integrity Clubs represents a proactive approach towards instilling values of accountability, transparency, and ethics in the young minds of the DRC. In 2022, CERC took a monumental step forward by establishing 150 Integrity Clubs across South Kivu and Kinshasa. These clubs provided 2250 school children, aged between 14 and 19, with invaluable skills and resources to monitor and advocate for improved education services and infrastructure in their respective schools.

Furthermore, CERC’s initiatives extend beyond students, encompassing the very educators and administrators shaping the future of the DRC. Through meticulous training programs, CERC empowered 278 teachers and 138 principals from 150 secondary schools in South Kivu and Kinshasa. This training equipped them with the necessary knowledge and resources to combat inefficiencies and corruption in education services.

Through active engagement with Members of Parliament, CERC effectively influenced policymaking at a legislative level. This collaborative effort guarantees that integrity education is not only included in the curriculum but also reinforced by the legal framework. This significant milestone lays the foundation for a systematic and standardized approach to instilling values of integrity within educational institutions throughout the Democratic Republic of Congo.