June: National Examination Circus of the Republic of Congo

• June: National Examination Circus of the Republic of Congo

June is national exam month in the Republic of Congo, and in the chill of the dry season, students in every class from kindergarten to high school are busy preparing for the exams. Some face exams to move on to higher grades, while others, with a mixture of nervousness and hope, take the national exams to earn those precious diplomas that will cap their academic cycle.

Yet, despite this atmosphere of diligence and enthusiasm, a fundamental question remains: What is the point of all these diplomas?

Should these coveted pieces of paper be confined to a suitcase or adorn the living room like vain trophies?

Here we are at the heart of a satirical rethink, directly challenging the ministers responsible for our education system.

Act I: State Examinations – Bureaucratic Pantomime

There, on the stage of the state exam, we see young acrobats leaping through hoops of fire that recall and regurgitate outdated facts.

These exams, which are supposed to be the ultimate proof of their abilities and job market readiness, have become an utter farce.

Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Technological Innovation Edith Delphine Emmanuelle née Adouki, could you explain to us the importance of these exams in a world where research and innovation are king, and the knowledge gained in these exams is as important as a wheelbarrow of fish? Ah, but we are well aware that our goal is to fill the wardrobes of Congolese families with these precious certificates, souvenirs of a time when we still believe in their value.

Act II: Diplomas – Scrolls of Prestige… and Disillusionment

Mr Jean Luc Mouthou, Minister of Pre-school, Primary and Secondary Education and Literacy, In your ministry, children grow up believing that a diploma is the key to a prosperous future.

But what an irony, what a cruel magic trick, these diplomas can only be used to decorate the living room, or worse, can be locked in a suitcase and hidden away like a shameful treasure.

What is the point of studying for years, memorizing mountains of theoretical knowledge, only to find out in the end that the job market is an impenetrable fortress locked up for us young graduates?

Business requires experience and practical skills, not glorious but useless scrolls.

Act 3: Technical and vocational education – the great absence

The Minister of Technical and Vocational Education, Mr. Ghislain Thierry Maguess Ebome, said technical and vocational education should be the heart of our economy, a place where young people learn skills that are directly applicable to the job market.

But sadly, this branch of education is neglected like a sad clown in a dark corner of the race track.

The training centres were ill-equipped, the programmes were outdated and partnerships with companies were as rare as the lions roaming the streets of Brazzaville.

Where is the support and investment needed to transform these centers into engines of the national economy?

Final Act: Ministerial denials – a series of grand illusions

But let us not be too harsh, because you, our dear ministers, are the real masters of magic.

You have succeeded in convincing the entire country that the education system works, that diplomas still have value, and that the future is bright for our graduates.

Ministers, ladies and gentlemen, we salute you for your ability to sustain this great illusion.

Maybe one day you’ll even succeed in convincing us that diplomas are meant for more than just being stored in a dusty suitcase or displayed like an empty trophy.

Until then, we will continue to watch this circus with a wry smile, secretly hoping that one day the curtain will fall on this farce and educational reform will become a reality, finally giving meaning to the Republic of Congo’s national exams and diplomas.

Perhaps one day our young talents will no longer have to juggle academic fantasies but will be able to truly use their diplomas to build a better future.

In the meantime, ladies and gentlemen, ministers, thank you for your end-of-school-year performances.

The audience applauded and the curtain fell.

Serge Armand Zanzara, Journalist and writer