You are here

Leerkracht Joline Mukongo is een rolmodel voor meisjes in het landbouw-onderwijs in de DR Congo
25/06/2015

In the DR Congo, VVOB implements a programme on technical agricultural education. One of the axes of this programme is the training of teachers. In this country the inspectors organise the continuing professional development of the teachers of agricultural schools. Our programme team talks about how this is put into practice with Joline Mukongo. She is a technical agricultural engineer and a teacher in the Institute of Isingu, one of the nine pilot schools of the VVOB programme. Joline Mukongo has benefitted from many training activities and she is passionate about sharing her knowledge with the other teachers of her school.

"I develop myself so I can assist
others in their development
"

Becoming a teacher

Joline Mukongo is a former pupil of the Institute of Isingu, the school where she is teaching now. “It was my father who encouraged me to study agronomy, rather than commerce, which had my preference”, she explains. “My father had a small farm and needed me to obtain modern agricultural knowledge to further develop the farm. As an agronomist-teacher, I am now responsible for the optional classes of grades three till six. I teach among others agriculture, rural engineering, topography and crop improvement. Since I finished my studies, I already collected 15 years of teaching experience. Almost half of my training during this time was provided through two VVOB-supported programmes.”

Strengthening fellow teachers

The Institute of Isingu is the only school to be closely involved in two VVOB programmes in the DR Congo. “For over six years”, Joline Mukongo continues, “I was privileged to participate in all training activities organised by the Inspection Services with the support of VVOB. For example, I really enjoyed the training on the competency-based approach of teaching.

As a teacher, I have trained hundreds of pupils myself in different classes and on different subjects. But what I like the most is to help and strengthen other teachers. I have worked with a growing number of them over the years. So far, I believe, I have been able to train about 170 teachers, in my own school as well as in other schools in the region.

We often share knowledge through feedback sessions in our local network, in which I like to take up a leading role. My colleagues are proud of me.”

The value of working together

“I am convinced that working together like this with my colleagues, contributes to the development of agricultural education in my province. So I do not regret to have chosen to become an agronomist as I feel very useful in my community. My fellow teachers appreciate my openness to share my knowledge with them. The principal of our school sees me as a valued staff member and mobiliser.

I am also happy to inspire many girls. I like to encourage girls to become agronomists. It works. Every year we have higher numbers of girls in our school. Most girls look at me as a role model and I am really very proud of that.”