Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Priorities and Options for Regeneration (World Bank Country Study)

The education system in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has proved remarkably resilient in the face of economic crisis and armed conflict. Enrolment has grown at all levels but has been most rapid in higher education. During this period of conflict, the education sector was financed almost entirely by household contributions. The DRC is now faced with critical policy choices as it moves to a more efficient and equitable balance between public and private financing and in expanding and upgrading the quality of the system. Education in the Democratic Republic of Congo presents a comprehensive analysis of the current status of the education system in the DRC. Using data from a variety of sources, including government sources, special school surveys of public and private schools as well as parents, and achievement tests, the book presents analyses of student flows, public and private expenditures and student learning. The difficult trade-offs in sectoral objectives and strategies are highlighted through illustrative financial simulations that show the financial requirements by sub-sector and sources of financing.