Sending your kids to school in the DRC can be challenging. I studied at the French school in the 1990s. It was a good education. They followed the French national system and was accredited in France. Today there are more or less good schools. Some are very expensive, others are more reasonable. You can even send them to English speaking schools.

Here are the ones that I know (in Kinshasa):

• In English
  • The American School of Kinshasa (TASOK) : a very expensive, if not the most expensive school in Kinshasa. I think it goes from kindergarten to high school. You get a diploma recognised in the USA and can apply to US and European universities. Teachers tend to be American or foreigners (I think!). Space might be very limited. Your child must already have a good grasp of English.
  • Jewels https://www.jewelsschoolkinshasa.com/fr/: Another English speaking school that delivers the international baccalaureate. It is much more reasonable but maybe not be as good as TASOK. Teachers are a mix of foreigners and locals.
• In French
  • The French School https://lfrd.skolengo.com: Lycée Français Réné Descartes. This is where I went. They have nice facilities and follow the French national program. Space might be very limited.
  • The Belgian school https://www.lpl-rdc.com: Lycée Prince de Liège. A belgian school that follows the Belgian national system. Prices might be more democratic than the French school. Spaces might be very limited. They also have a primary school in Dutch/Flemish.
  • Congolese national schools : Les Loupiots I’m told is good.

For kindergarden and daycare, I know of :

• Les Oisillons (https://www.facebook.com/p/Ecole-les-Oisillons-Officiel–100064194033518/?locale=fr_FR)
• Busy Bees : An English-speaking nursery school offering preschool for children aged 15 months to 5 years. The school follows the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum and focuses on play-based, individualised learning in a warm and inclusive environment. www.kinshasabusybees.com

For universities : 

• Université Protestante du Congo (UPC) is quite good (apparently)
• UNKIN is ok. 
• UNILU (Lubumbashi) has a better reputation

For university, Congolese or foreigners who have the means try to send their kids to South Africa, India, Turkey, Europe, Canada or the USA.

There are good primary and secondary schools in Lubumbashi but most go to the Belgian school.

Any comments or corrections? Let me know in the comments.

Featured photo : Kinshasa Then and Now – Kosuba Awa Te (2011)