Radio-based education promotes access to education for Congolese children
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, children and youth face serious obstacles to education and economic opportunity. Widespread poverty, limited access to quality schooling, and weak public services create persistent barriers. This is compounded by other socio-economic issues such as high unemployment and limited opportunities for skills training. This is especially true for underserved and vulnerable communities.
War Child is responding to these challenges by supporting three remedial education centres in South Kivu province. This multi-year project expands access to quality education for out-of-school children through an innovative Interactive Radio Instruction methodology (IRI), which has been developed and adapted since its introduction over a decade ago.
In 2025, the project made strong progress in access to schooling, improved teaching quality, and overall school support. A total of 942 learners enrolled for the 2025/2026 academic year, 498 of whom were girls. Twenty-six assistant educators and directors received salary support, and 25 participants, including educators, directors, and inspectors, completed training in IRI teaching techniques and practices, raising instructional standards across the centres.
Supervision and oversight also improved. Education inspectors carried out 9 monitoring visits, and all three centres received improved teaching materials and reported satisfaction with what they received. BY the end of 2025 all three centres had seen infrastructure upgrades, leading to better learning environments for students and educators.
Beyond classroom delivery, the project strengthened child protection and life skills. Twenty-two educators and directors were trained on children’s rights and protection, and a comprehensive manual was produced on psychosocial care practices for vulnerable children.
By investing in teaching quality, materials, and infrastructure, War Child is improving the delivery of accelerated education for out-of-school children in South Kivu and building pathways toward long-term resilience.
Radio-Based Education in the DRC
What's different about our approach?
Nearly a decade ago, War Child recognized the need to create safe spaces for Congolese children to continue their education during times of conflict. That is why we developed a ground-breaking, interactive radio-based education program. We adapted the national curriculum to a series of radio dramas so that children no longer needed to make that dangerous trek to formal schools but rather could learn where they lived with the guidance of specially trained teaching assistants. Developing innovative solutions is essential to working in war zones and is one of the reasons why War Child is a global leader in the education of children in conflict.
