Tribute to the producers of the video vignettes that have allowed the continuity of education in the DRC despite the lockdown.
Tic Tac, tick tock! The clock is ticking. 2021 is the last year of implementation of the Education Project for Quality and Relevance of Education at the Secondary and University Levels (PEQPESU).
The last few labs need to be received, the last few deliveries need to be organized, the new science learning domain educational programs for the science humanities need to be validated, and the "Learning at Home" program vignettes need to be finished. It's a rush in a tough!
Video clips
For the "Learning at Home" program, the 7th grade of basic education (1st secondary) is completed, the 8th grade (2nd secondary) will be completed by the end of February. We will have produced video vignettes for Math, Life and Earth Sciences, Physics, Chemistry, and Computer Science for the Terminal Cycle of Basic Education (Bravo!)
For the four years of science humanities (post basic education), we are at 37% completion. We are going to have to race to finish before June. To give you an idea, we need to produce a total of 241 vignettes for the 6 years of high school and we have already produced 135, more than half.
Heroes and Heroines
But who are these volunteers who produce these vignettes? That's the purpose of this article, to introduce you to these heroes and heroines of distance learning in the DRC, these new Congolese influencers.
The female students in physical sciences at UNIKIN
When we launched the "Learning at Home" program, it was a no-brainer for me to involve the female physical science students at the University of Kinshasa. Why?
First, because it is rare to have girls who take up physics studies at the university, so when there are some, they need to be put forward. Second, because for the students, both girls and boys, these female students are like big sisters who help them study, who give them a taste for science and studies.
For 7th grade
Young students can identify with them and accept being accompanied in the discovery of this discipline, physics. So, who are these physicists?
Rosalie Banza did her humanities in math-physics at Kanshi General and Technical Secondary School (Eastern Kasai). She is currently a third degree student in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science of the University of Kinshasa.
Bénédicte Kahindo Kalumbete finished her humanities in chemistry-biology at Kambali College in the city of Butembo (North Kivu). She is currently a second degree student in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science of the University of Kinshasa.
Sharon Rose Kapinga finished her humanities at Lycée Shaumba in Kinshasa in chemistry-biology. She is currently a third degree student in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science of the University of Kinshasa.
Eunice Ngomba Muamba did her humanities in math-physics at the General and Technical Secondary School of Kanshi (Eastern Kasai). She is currently a second degree student in physics at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Kinshasa.
Rachel Ntumba Mukeba finished her humanities in math-physics at Bosembo College in Kinshasa. She is currently a third degree student in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Science of the University of Kinshasa.
Darole Masevosi did her humanities in math-physics at Kambali College in the city of Butembo (North Kivu). She is currently a first degree student in the Department of Physics at the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Kinshasa.
These 6 students were involved in the production of physics vignettes for the 7th year of Basic Education (1st secondary). Check out their playlist.
The Teachers
We used local and diaspora professionals and teachers to produce the vignettes. This is an essential element for us. We want to mobilize, highlight and promote local knowledge and skills.
Nadège Cibogo is a graduate in biology chemistry section, a trainee doctor at the University Clinics of Bukavu and enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at the Official University of Bukavu (South Kivu). For the "Learning at Home" program, Nadège Cibogo handled the vignettes for the Life and Earth Sciences of the 2nd and 4th Humanité Scientifique (4th and 6th secondary).
Christelle Dilu is a physics and chemistry teacher at the Lycée Prince de Liège in Kinshasa. She is also in charge of the organization of laboratories as well as the preparation and supervision of the school's science days. She has a Master's degree in Electricity from the Ecole Polytechnique of the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB). In our program, Christelle Dilu is in charge of the production of the physics capsules for the 4th Scientific Humanity (6th secondary). Check out this playlist.
Gabriel Etumangele Tshitaka has a master's degree in computer systems and network security from the private college of information technology and business management in Tunis. He is currently an assistant at the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique (ISP) in La Gombe. Gabriel Etumangele has been involved in the production of capsules for computer science (ICT) for the 3rd scientific humanity (5th secondary).
Rodrigue Etumangele Aseke has (among other things) a National Diploma in Petrochemical Engineering from the Ecole Centrale Polytechnique Privée in Tunis. He was a teacher at the French-American University of Kinshasa where he taught the course in reservoir engineering. Rodrigue Etumangele produces the chemistry capsules for the 4 classes of scientific humanities (3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th secondary).
Melissa Kusisakana Bokomba holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from South Africa's Cape Peninsula University of Technology. She is currently an assistant lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering at Loyola University of Congo (ULC) located in Kimwenza (Kinshasa). She is doing research on the conversion of organic waste into biogas. Melissa Kusisakana handled chemistry capsules for the 1st science humanity (3rd secondary).
Cleophas Mikobi has a bachelor's degree in Environmental Science, Systems, Biodiversity, Nature Conservation and Endogenous Knowledge track. His specialty is sustainable agriculture and fish farming. He is in charge of environmental education and training at the Lycée Prince de Liège in Kinshasa and a professor of Life and Earth Sciences at Ojer school. He is also the General Manager and founder of the company Mbisi Moloni. Unsurprisingly, Cleophas Mikobi has been in charge of the vignettes for life and earth sciences (SVT) in the 8th year of basic education (2nd secondary).
Dora Muanda is passionate about science and its popularization. She has an agrégation in science and is the scientific director of the science and technology week in DRC. She also has a bachelor's degree in biology from the Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) and a master's degree in biology and didactics from the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) (Belgium). Dora Muanda is in charge of the life and earth sciences capsules for the 4th science humanity (6th secondary). Look for this playlist made with Nadège.
Eddy Mutombo Shanga has a degree in applied pedagogy from the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique de Mbanza - Ngungu. He is currently Head of Office in charge of planning and Focal Point Monitoring & Evaluation of the Provincial Strategy of Education and Training in the Educational Province of EPST Kongo Central 2 and Coordinator of the scientific association of supervisors for finalists (A.S.E.F, in acronym). Eddy Mutombo was in charge of the computer (ICT) capsules of the 7th year of basic education (1st secondary) and the 4th science humanity (6th secondary).
Jean Roddy Ngudia Kangudi is a computer scientist, president of the Centre d'Appui pour la Formation Education et Instruction (CAFEI,asbl), and a teacher at the Masmba Institute (Mingadi/Kasangulu/Kongo-Central). In the "Learning at Home" program, he handled math vignettes for the 8th year of basic education (2nd secondary).
Arthur Sumaili is an industrial construction engineer finality surveyor. He is a physics and mathematics teacher at the Lycée Prince de Liège in Kinshasa for the last classes of secondary school. For the program "Learning at Home", Arthur Sumaili is in charge of the math capsules for the 4th scientific humanity (6th secondary).
The champion of teaching in Lingala
Bienvenu Sene Mongaba has (among other things) a bachelor's degree (2nd cycle) in chemical sciences from the University of Kinshasa and a doctorate in African languages and cultures from the University of Ghent, Belgium. His specialty is "the use of lingála in science education".
He is the founder of the publishing house Mabiki and promoter of the Institut Nsene Etienne (elementary school) in the Commune of Kimbanseke, Kinshasa. He is our champion of science and mathematics teaching in Lingala ! For the "Learning at Home" program, Bienvenu Sene Mongaba handles bilingual, French-Lingala, chemistry and math vignettes for grades 7 and 8 of basic education (1st and 2nd secondary).
Private actors
For the capsules in cartoon format, we collaborate with BOX IDEA. It is a Congolese start-up digital content production company, specializing in animation and audiovisual production.
It is headed by Claudy Pinnock Makilanda who has worked with the top ten digital companies in the world, including Amazon, Google, Apple, Samsung, Renault, as a web content creator and designer. BOX IDEA produces the life and earth sciences, physics, and computer science (ICT) vignettes for grades 7 and 8 in basic education, and for the science humanities.
Joséphine Ndeze is the Next Einstein Forum Ambassador for the Democratic Republic of Congo (2019-2021). She is co-founder of the startup Up To Date Developpers (UPDEV). For the "Learning at Home" program, Josephine Ndeze and the UPDEV team produced the Computer Science series vignettes for Science and Technology Week.
All volunteers
As you can see, the profiles are varied and I remind you that these are volunteers who have agreed to mobilize for this cause: to ensure the continuity of learning despite the closure of schools.
These designers have at their disposal only a cell phone, a computer and an Internet connection (they do not have a sophisticated camera or a tie microphone). They don't have access to labs or schools (lockdown). We do not have a recording studio and for editing we work with a team of volunteer editors as well.
Ministerial validation
The data sheets and vignettes are validated by the team of experts from the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education in charge of the modernization of educational programs of the learning area of science of the terminal cycle of basic education and scientific humanities (I will also dedicate an article to them).
Without the Internet and its many collaborative work tools, it would have been impossible to conduct this program in the current context (health crisis, lockdown, curfew, dispersed teams) and with the limited funding available.
And the music
To follow the production of the vignettes, subscribe now to the PEQPESU YouTube channel. Don't forget to also click on the bell to be notified when a new video is posted.
STOP! I can't close this article without mentioning that the two jingles for the "Learning at Home" program vignettes were composed by Benjamin N'soko. They are unpublished works created for the occasion. Benjamin works in Belgium in the pharmaceutical industry, has a degree in agribusiness and biotechnology, and composes music (scientists are also artists 😉). He also hosted the "Science Lab of Science and Technology Week" capsules with Axelle Katanga. To watch and watch again.
I would thus like to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who collaborate with us on this program, who contribute to making it known, and thank you to the World Bank, which funds it through PEQPESU.
Science is fun, join us ! 😉
This article has first been published on LinkedIn.