In total, 952,334 candidates, distributed across 2,959 examination centers, are taking part in these off-schedule exams. These exams are being held across the entire country, except for areas under rebel occupation in the North Kivu province, namely much of the territories of Masisi, Rutshuru, and even Nyiragongo. The exams are also taking place in schools located outside the country, such as in Tanzania or Angola, for example.

In his message to the finalists in Kinshasa, the Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education called on the participants not to give in to the demons of fraud. "[...] I therefore invite you not to succumb to the demons of fraud, cheating, and collusion, which degrade success and cast discredit on our entire educational system. I urge you to do individual work based on confidence in yourselves and in the skills imparted by your teachers throughout the school year that is drawing to a close," he declared.

Well before this, Tony Mwaba reminded the graduating students that the Democratic Republic of the Congo needs values. "The democratic Congo of today and tomorrow that we want strong and prosperous is founded on values of peace, justice, work, honesty, integrity, and probity," he noted. The Minister of Primary, Secondary, and Technical Education also visited other dissertation examination centers to ensure these exams were being conducted effectively.

Among the finalists participating in these exams, the educational province of South Ubangi I has nearly 14,000 candidates. Of the 2,959 examination centers, 13 are functioning in territories beyond the borders, including 2 in Luanda and Kabinda (Angola), 1 in Kampala (Uganda), 1 in Kigali (Rwanda), 5 in Bujumbura (Burundi), and 4 in Kigoma, Tanzania.

Dido Nsapu