CENCO’s statement regarding Free Education, FORUM DES AS mentions: “Cenco prescribes its therapy”. Taking stock of this constitutional provision three months after its implementation, the Catholic bishops suggest to the Government to normalize the pay of all teachers, to generalize the operating costs of schools, to accelerate the rehabilitation and construction of educational establishments across the country, FORUM DES AS notes.

The National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO), through its Secretary General, Father Donatien Nshole Babula, welcomes the implementation of the free basic education measure in the DRC.

The SG of CENCO expressed himself, during a mid-term review, drawn up yesterday Monday, December 16. In front of the press, Father N'shole lists the advances and the challenges to be met.

Free education: CENCO is sounding the alarm, LA PROSPERITE mentfions.

The newspaper stresses: "Free primary education must be irreversible," said the National Episcopal Conference of the Congo (CENCO), in his statement read by his Secretary General, Father Donatien N’shole, during a press conference held on Monday, December 16 at the inter diocesan Center”.

Without taking four ways, our newspaper continues, the Catholic bishops, reacting after the address of the Head of State on the state of the nation of Friday, December 13, called the leaders of the country to carry out the promise of the President Félix Tshisekedi to pay the unpaid teachers in January 2020. The Cenco also asked for the authorities to reassure the new units that they will be paid retroactively, as a motivation.

For the purpose of removing any ambiguity, Father Donatien N’shole clarified that the Catholic Church, contrary to certain rumors, is not against free education. As proof, he noted that the Catholic episcopate had exercised the option of not imposing on parents the payment of teachers' salaries, through a Memorandum addressed to the Government of the Republic in June 2004.

Opportunity making the thief, he noted that the strike of the teachers is not against gratuitousness but to claim pay. The important thing, according to the said statement by Cenco, is that the competent authorities take care of the essential prerequisites for the proper application of this requirement of article 43 of the Constitution. More than anything, Cenco has expressed its willingness to contribute in the search for suitable solutions in order to mainly resolve the problems of non-payment of teachers who have worked since September as well as the insufficient salaries which, for some, have been significantly revised- Because these difficulties, according to the prelates, risk compromising the success of this policy of free education or contributing to the decline in the level of education which is already "deplorable". "

Regarding the vote by the National Assembly and the Senate on the budget law, “For the first time in its history: the Senate is passing the finance law hastily! ". This observation is from FORUM DES AS. From the outset, this newspaper wonders: "Wasn't an extraordinary session necessary within the Upper House to allow it to bring a rigorous touch to the 2020 draft Budget? "

For FORUM DES AS, "We can blame everything on the Senate, except its lucidity, its rigor in the examination of a proposal or a bill".

"Compared to the 2020 finance bill, some believe that this budget would have gained in substance, if it had been scrutinized by senators, most of whom have expertise and proven experience in the management of the affairs of the State”, it reports.

In addition, this newspaper reports, the same analysts maintain that one should not sacrifice the quality of the parliamentary work on the altar of the respect of constitutional deadline. The question that arises is whether we should, at all costs, close it in haste, a session essentially budgetary in the name of conformism to the constitutional provisions?

Whereas, as far as it is concerned, LE POTENTIEL mentions: "September session: mission accomplished within National Assembly". An abundant harvest in terms of results for the first budgetary session of 3rd legislature of 3rd Republic- At the close of the September 2019 session was preceded by the adoption of the report of the joint Senate-National Assembly joint committee validating on the 2020 budget stopped at 10 billion dollars, this newspaper specifies.

Regarding the speech of the Head of State on the State of the Nation, "Beyond far-reaching reforms, Félix Tshisekedi announces major actions in 2020". In the article thus entitled, LA PROSPRITE which reports, evoking the Head of State: "The year which opens will witness the resumption of collaboration with our traditional partners, the massive arrival of foreign investment, the result of my recent trips. With the measures we have taken on all fronts, I can say with courage that we are on the right way. In unity, in love, let’s work for our collective success. Let’s make our country great. It’s in times of great challenges that talents hatch "."

For him, in fact, LA PROSPERITE analyzes, beyond all divisions, it is time to be together to move forward.

Free education: "Free education: impossible return of motivation". LE POTENTIEL which offers this title writes: "Friday December 1, before the deputies and senators gathered in congress, the Head of State made the state of the nation. His words returned in all directions to try to penetrate his thoughts on issues that affect the life of the Nation. "With particular regard to the issue of education, the words of the head of State have given rise to interpretations in various senses, even the most tendentious", this newspaper notes.

Corneille Kinsala N’soki

(CKS/Yes)