News
Effectiveness of Open and Distance Learning in the DRC
Kinshasa, May 28, 2025—The ceremony was marked by interministerial synergy, with the presence of following ministers: Education and New Citizenship, Communication and Media, Posts, Telecommunications, and Digital Affairs, as well as the UNESCO Representative in the DRC and Head of Huawei Office and Vodacom Foundation in the DRC.
In her speech, Her Excellency the Minister of Higher Education and University thanked UNESCO for initiating the process of developing a national strategy for open and distance learning (ODL) on May 28, 2024. Dr. Marie-Thérèse SOMBO also praised the contribution of this digital platform, which aims to democratize access to higher education across the country, particularly in areas affected by conflicts and/or natural disasters.
The UNESCO Representative in the DRC emphasized that this ODL platform aligns with the national action plan for implementing the Recommendation on Open Educational Resources (OER), adopted at UNESCO’s 40th General Conference in Paris in November 2019.
This platform contributes to the digital transformation of DRC higher education system. Making open and distance learning a sustainable reality in the country means investing in the future of DRC youth. It lays the foundation for an inclusive, connected, and forward-looking knowledge society. ... Together, let’s build higher education that serves development, peace, and prosperity for all Congolese.
This platform offers several advantages, including:
Facilitating lifelong learning through continuous education;
Reducing geographical inequalities and limiting discrimination in access to education;
Addressing overcrowding in university lecture halls;
Promoting academic succession while reducing costly and risky mobility for teaching staff, whose average age is 65.
