DRC Regularises More Than 24,000 Teachers On Free-Schooling Bonus

Kinshasa, August 13, 2026 - DINACOPE national director Vital Lumbala Kadiata said 24,296 teachers have been regularised on the free-primary schooling bonus since his appointment in February 2026.

Speaking at an August 12 press briefing, he said 23,675 primary teachers now receive the full CDF 80,000 bonus, while 621 teachers who had not previously been included were added to the scheme.

Kadiata said the changes did not require an additional Treasury allocation. More than CDF 471 million was freed by removing duplicate and fictitious cases, while 148 bureau administrators fraudulently listed on the payroll were deactivated.

DINACOPE is rolling out digitalisation and biometric controls at the central level, including fingerprint and facial recognition. Kadiata also said unjustified payroll deductions remain banned after January cuts of CDF 20,000 from the bonus in some education provinces were corrected in February.

Outstanding issues include the status of New Units and unpaid teachers ahead of the September 1 school year, a key pressure point for the government's free primary education policy.