The decree establishes a fee schedule that varies according to the level of education and the type of school. At the primary level, amounts range from 5,000 to 45,000 Congolese francs per student per term, while at the secondary level, they can reach 240,000 Congolese francs per term in technical and vocational tracks.
The document specifies that payments must be made to CADECO account No. 01020110057—opened in the name of the rebel authorities' provincial education coordination office—before the school fees can be validated.
This measure increases the financial burden on households in areas where the population is already suffering the consequences of war, displacement, and the loss of many sources of income.some parent described this as families' "ordeal," expressing fear that many children might drop out of school due to a lack of funds. According to him, the rebels have reportedly banned the dissemination of the decree.
The decree also outlines sanctions for non-compliance. School administrators who fail to adhere to the regulations regarding fee collection and remittance face administrative penalties, while students whose fees remain unpaid may be expelled or denied certain school services, in accordance with the procedures set out in the text.
Since 2019, the Congolese government has funded free primary education across the entire country; teachers—including those in rebel-held areas and those displaced by the war—continue to receive their salaries. The AFC/M23 decree thus establishes a separate system in occupied territories, where parents are once again responsible for paying school fees.
