AFRICA: DEM. REP. OF CONGO: CARITAS PAYS TEACHER SALARIES

Agenzia Fides report - The Catholic Church and the Congolese State have reached an agreement to facilitate the payment of Catholic school teachers’ salaries in the vast territory of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), taking advantage of the local Caritas network.
According to the DIA Catholic news agency in Kinshasa, the agreement was signed on Aug. 10 by His Exc. Mgr. Nicolas Djomo Lola, Bishop of Tshumbe and President of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (NECCO), and by Mr Maker Mwangu, Congolese Minister of Education.
The agreement provides that the payment of teachers’ salaries during the school year 2011-2012 will be made through Caritas Congo network. The Congolese State will pay in the money through a special bank account opened by Caritas, which will pay the Catholic School teachers across the country.
A 6-month trial period to verify the effectiveness of this experience is expected.
The Minister underlined that the agreement between the State and the Catholic Church was decreed after consultation with other educational partners concerning other churches (Protestant, Kimbangu, the Salvation Army, etc. ..) and the Islamic community.
The late payment of teachers’ salaries has caused deep distress, which has resulted in protests and strikes. (L.M.)

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