• The Congolese government adopted a national digital education policy to coordinate technology integration across all levels of education.
• Internet penetration reached 30.5% at the end of 2025, leaving nearly 70% of the population offline.
• The policy aims to guide investments, strengthen digital skills and improve governance across the education sector.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is seeking to strengthen the digital transformation of its education system through a newly adopted national policy that will serve as a common framework for future technology initiatives. On June 12, the Council of Ministers adopted the National Information and Communication Policy for Education and Training (PNICEF), a framework designed to harmonize the integration of digital technologies across all education cycles.

National Education Minister Raïssa Malu spearheaded the policy, which will serve as the reference framework for future digital initiatives in the sector. The policy covers primary and secondary education, vocational training, higher education, scientific research and literacy programs. Moreover, the framework seeks to promote interoperable and secure digital tools that align with national education priorities.

The government expects the policy to establish common standards and improve coordination across the education ecosystem as it expands the use of digital technologies.

The policy follows several digital transformation projects that Congolese authorities have deployed in recent years. Authorities have digitized administrative management processes in schools, strengthened education information systems and modernized mechanisms for collecting and managing education data. However, the absence of a comprehensive coordination framework has limited the coherence and complementarity of these initiatives.

Consequently, policymakers view PNICEF as a mechanism to align existing projects under a single strategic vision. The policy arrives as the country continues to face significant digital infrastructure constraints. According to DataReportal, the Democratic Republic of Congo counted 34.7 million internet users at the end of 2025, representing an internet penetration rate of 30.5%.

As a result, nearly 70% of the population remained offline. This digital divide continues to affect the education sector. Many schools still face challenges related to internet connectivity, electricity access and the availability of computer equipment.

Through PNICEF, the government aims to establish a single roadmap to guide investment decisions, strengthen digital competencies among students and teachers, and improve governance across the education sector. In addition, authorities expect the framework to create conditions for a more inclusive education system that is better aligned with the needs of the digital economy.

This article was initially published in French by Samira Njoya

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum