Raïssa Malu

Raïssa Malu
In an ICTP panel discussion in 2024
Minister of National Education and New Citizenship for the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Incumbent
Assumed office
29 May 2024
PresidentFélix Tshisekedi
Prime MinisterSama Lukonde
Judith Suminwa
Preceded byTony Mwaba Kazadi
Personal details
Born
Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)
ParentFélix Malu wa Kalenga
Alma materUCLouvain
ProfessionPhysicist and educator

Raïssa Malu Dinanga is a Congolese physicist, international education consultant, writer and politician. From 29 May 2024, she has served as Minister of National Education and New Citizenship for the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Biography

Malu was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[1] Her father Félix Malu wa Kalenga (1936–2011) was a nuclear physicist at the Regional Center for Nuclear Studies in Kinshasa.[2][3]

Malu studied at UCLouvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Wallonia, Belgium, and lived in Belgium for seven years.[4] After graduating, Malu worked as a computer scientist for a bank and as a research assistant in the nuclear industry.[5] She left the private sector to work as a science and mathematics teacher and returned to the DRC.[3][4]

In 2014, Malu founded a non-profit organization that organises the DRC's annual Science and Technology Week in Kinshasa.[1][6] Malu has written education textbooks and is editor of the Les Indispensables textbook series.[1][7] She was also been an Ambassador for the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences' (AIMS) Next Einstein Forum (2017–2019).[1][8][9]

From 2016 to 2021, Malu headed the PEQPESU project (Education Project for the Quality and Relevance of Teaching at Secondary and University Levels) of the Ministry of Primary, Secondary and Technical Education (EPST), with the support of the World Bank. In this role, she assessed the quality of teaching across the DRC.[10]

Malu served as Honorary Member of the DRC's Presidential Panel of the African Union (2021–2022), focusing on education, youth, science, technology, and innovation.[2][11][12] She was one of two female members of the panel.[13]

On 29 May 2024, Malu was appointed as Minister of National Education and New Citizenship for the Government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in the Suminwa government.[12][14][15] Malu is the second woman to lead this Ministry in the history of the DRC.[16] As Minister, Malu has introduced artificial intelligence to automate exam marking and reduce the cost of marking national exams.[17][18] Plans have also been introduced to issue electronic diplomas to enhance security and preserve education credentials.[18]

Malu is a Member of the Belgian Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences (RAOS).[11] She is a member of the International Advisory Committee of the African Strategy for Fundamental and Applied Physics (ASFAP) initiative.

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Raïssa Malu". Next Einstein Forum. 30 April 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  2. ^ a b "At the intersection of life, science and culture". The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS). 5 July 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  3. ^ a b "RDC : Raïssa Malu, une femme physicienne à la tête du ministre de l'Éducation nationale et nouvelle citoyenneté - Droit & Finances.CD" (in French). 29 May 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Raïssa Malu:« Je partage un amour profond pour les sciences et la RDC »". Radio Okapi (in French). 16 November 2017. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  5. ^ Dugmore, Heather (10 December 2022). "Pioneer is bringing science education alive on the continent". The Mail & Guardian. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  6. ^ "Raïssa Malu : Il est temps que l'Afrique devienne productrice de technologies". Afrique Sub-Saharienne. Archived from the original on 20 December 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  7. ^ Malu, Raïssa; Malu, Mano (1 March 2012). Physiciens et physiciennes, d'Archimède au 19e siècle: Tome I – Mécanique, Thermodynamique et Electromagnétisme (in French). p. 3. ISBN 978-2-9600960-2-6.
  8. ^ Ndungidi, Patrick (20 March 2019). "Raïssa Malu : « les STIM ne sont pas plus difficiles que les langues, l'économie ou les sciences humaines»". African Shapers (in French). Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  9. ^ Sultani Makutano (25 July 2019). Makutano Ambassador Raïssa Malu. Retrieved 15 October 2025 – via YouTube.
  10. ^ "RDC: Qui est Raïssa MALU, Ministre d'État à l'éducation nationale et de la nouvelle citoyenneté ?". Educ Tv (in French). 16 July 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  11. ^ a b "Raïssa Malu". American Physical Society. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  12. ^ a b Bakambana, Germaine (6 June 2024). "Que retenir de Raïssa MALU, la nouvelle Ministre d'État à l'éducation nationale et nouvelle citoyenneté?". PourElle (in French). Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  13. ^ "Raissa Malu and Julienne Lusenge named within the AU panel". Esclavage Conjugal en Temps de Guerre. 5 November 2020. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  14. ^ "RDC: qui est Raïssa MALU, Ministre d'État à l'éducation nationale et de la nouvelle citoyenneté?". Actualite.cd (in French). 12 June 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Education Cannot Wait Interviews Raïssa Malu, Minister of State, Minister of National Education and New Citizenship for the Democratic Republic of the Congo". Education Cannot Wait. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Raïssa Malu, deuxième femme à diriger le ministère de l'Education nationale". ACP (in French). 19 June 2024. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  17. ^ "AI cuts exam marking time in Congo from 3 months to 3 days". Ghana Web. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
  18. ^ a b "AI Slashes Exam Marking Time in Congo From Months to Days". iAfrica.com. 20 August 2025. Retrieved 15 October 2025.
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