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Pulitzer Center Update February 21, 2023

Officials at Congo Curriculum Review Make Recommendations for Schools' Environmental Content

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Education experts discuss national curricula on environmental protection, rainforests, and climate change. Image courtesy of Eric Selemani. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 2023.

After several months of preparation, experts from the Directorate of Curricula and Teaching Materials of the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo recently met to revisit the educational content on environmental protection, tropical forests, and climate change at the primary and secondary levels. 

 

During intensive work on February 6-7, 2023, education officials reviewed Congo primary and secondary school curriculum to determine if content and textbooks satisfactorily cover the concepts of environmental protection, tropical forest protection, and climate change. 

Working in small groups by grade level, meeting participants made the following recommendations to the DRC government, partners, and teachers:

  • Pursue the review of all subjects in the national primary school curriculum (Dipromad) 
  • Conduct desk research on environmental education, tropical forest protection, environmental protection, and climate change (Dipromad) 
  • Enrich the primary school curriculum by integrating aspects of environmental protection, tropical forest protection, and climate change (Ministry of Education and Science) 
  • Draft a student manual, teacher's guide, module, and teaching materials related to environmental education and sustainable development (Dipromad) 
  • Train teachers and other actors of the educational system on environmental education (environmental protection, protection of tropical forests, and climate change) (Dipromad) 
  • Plan field visits during the revision of the contents in order to appreciate the social practices between the knowledge to be integrated in the teaching program (Dipromad) 
  • Develop a communication strategy for environmental education (Dipromad) 
  • Develop an awareness sheet on environmental education (environmental protection, protection of tropical forests, and climate change) (Dipromad) 
  • Validate the contents outside environmental education (environmental protection, tropical forest protection, and climate change) at the Ministry of Education (Dipromad)  
  • Align activities related to environmental education (environmental protection, tropical forest protection, and climate change) in the national budget (Government) 
  • Encourage Partners to align their actions with the priorities set by the Government through the SSEF and the Framework Law in the national budget (Government) 
  • Make proper use of the curriculum and improve teaching practices by focusing on the contexts of the environment, taking into account the three aspects (protection of tropical forests, environmental protection, and climate change) (Educators)
  • Encourage the use of recyclable products in the manufacture of teaching materials (Educator) 
  • Promote inclusion, equity, and diversity in activities related to environmental education in all tools  
  • Encourage teachers to enrich their teaching practices through the use of news articles, broadcasts, and other research tools (Educator) 
  • Expand the review of environmental education content to the kindergarten, seventh- ,and eighth-grade levels (Dipromad)

The Ministry of Education is in the process of renewing the National Education Program. The participants affirmed that this workshop inspired their methodology of evaluation of the educational contents that should be continued in order to allow the DRC through the Directorate of School Programs and Didactic Materials (Dipromad) to be equipped with a rich and practical curriculum, taking into account the environmental and climate issues.
 

Image courtesy of Eric Selemani. DRC, 2023.
Image courtesy of Eric Selemani. DRC, 2023.
Image courtesy of Eric Selemani. DRC, 2023.
Image courtesy of Eric Selemani. DRC, 2023.

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