Post-Secondary Education on the Move in DR Congo

Posted on by Kelly Norrell
Medical students at the Protestant University in Congo
Medical students in class at the Protestant University in Congo

Join Congo Mission Network on Saturday, Feb. 20 for the virtual session, “Post-Secondary Education” for updates about the colleges, universities and technical schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Headline speakers at post-secondary session.
Dr. Paul Williams, Dr. Sam Mampunza, the Rev. Dr. Kabue Mbala, and Dr. Serge Makolo will speak at the session, “Post-Secondary Education.”

Colleges, universities and technical schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo are striving to meet the adult educational needs of the population while coping with the pandemic and a range of grassroots issues. Join Congo Mission Network on Saturday, Feb. 20 to hear more during a virtual session, “Post-Secondary Education.”

The session will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern Time, 16H00 Kinshasa Time and 17H00 Kananga/Mbuji Mayi Time in Congo. Other start times in the U.S. are 9 a.m. Central Time,  8 a.m. Mountain Time, and 7 a.m. Pacific Time. Visit https://congopartners.org/register2020/ to register free of charge.

Speakers will give an overview and history of higher education in DR Congo, with first-hand accounts of participants’ experience and challenges.

  • Medical School Class at UPC
    Medical students at work in a class at the UPC Medical School

    Dr. Paul Williams, born in DR Congo and now associate professor and chair of the Department of Religious Students at the University of Omaha, will tell the history and timeline of the Protestant University in Congo (UPC).

  • Dr. Sam Mampunza, Vice Recteur at UPC, will speak about the challenges facing the UPC and other universities in Congo, how they have adapted to COVID -19, as well as the administrative view of education in urban Congo.
  • Medical and Law School students
    Ms. Etombo Benedicte, a student in the UPC Medical School, and Ebenga Paul, a student in the UPC Law School

    Etombo Benedicte, a student at the UPC Medical School, and Ebenga Paul, a student at the UPC Law School, will talk about the challenges they have faced, their experiences, and their plans for the future.

  • The Rev. Dr. Kabue Simon Mbala, Recteur at UPRECO (the Sheppard and Lapsley Presbyterian University of Congo), will talk about challenges facing UPRECO and other universities in Congo, COVID adaptation, and on education in rural Congo.
  • Dr. Serge Makolo, Director of the Christian Medical Institute of Kasai (IMCK) will give a video tour of the Higher Institute of Medical Technology, a university-level nursing school at IMCK. Dr. Makolo will also address current challenges and adaptations to COVID-19.
  • The Rev. Jacqueline Ntumba, a graduate of UPRECO who is now
    Pastor “Jacky” Ntumba providing a bag of food to a refugee family
    Pastor “Jacky” Ntumba providing a bag of food to a refugee family.

    Chaplain at IMCK, will tell her own personal story of her journey into the ministry, beginning with her primary schooling at Ilebo.  Outreach to refugees and indigent families is an important aspect of her ministry.

There will also be discussion of technical training and its role in DR Congo’s growing economy.

The session will last about two hours. This is part of an ongoing virtual CMN conference on health, theological, education and community issues in the DRC and US. Visit the Congo Mission Network YouTube channel  to watch videos from all the sessions as they are posted.

Published by Kelly Norrell