• Congo distributes 200 coding tablets to Brazzaville pilot schools
• UNESCO-Codemao partnership follows China training for teachers, students
• Initiative targets youth unemployment, expands digital skills programs

A youth coding initiative in the Republic of Congo marked a milestone on Thursday with the distribution of 200 coding tablets to pilot schools in Brazzaville.

The ceremony was held on Feb. 19 in the presence of Education Minister Jean-Luc Mouthou and UNESCO representative Fatoumata Barry Marega. The project is a partnership between UNESCO and Codemao, a Chinese company that provides coding education for young people.

Local media reported that the delivery followed an intensive training program in China in July 2025, where 19 students and 50 teachers were trained in the tools and teaching methods to be introduced in classrooms. Marega said the tablets are intended to make learning more interactive while encouraging creativity and computational thinking. The aim, she added, is to help students move from being digital consumers to creators, supporting efforts to modernize the education system.

Preparing youth for a changing job market

The tablets will be tested in pilot schools as part of efforts to integrate coding into regular classroom activities. Mouthou said the devices are designed to strengthen digital skills rather than serve as an end in themselves.

“They are tools to support more interactive teaching methods that promote creativity, collaboration and critical thinking. Their impact will depend on how effectively they are used in schools,” he said.

UNESCO said it plans a gradual rollout, including additional teacher training and expansion to other schools. The agency said early exposure to coding can improve learning outcomes and better prepare students for evolving labor market demands.

The initiative comes amid high youth unemployment. Afrobarometer data published in 2024 showed that 41% of Congolese aged 18 to 35 were unemployed.

In response, vocational training programs in 2025 trained 320 young people in digital fields such as web development, cybersecurity and design. Separately, the government launched the Youth Social Protection and Productive Inclusion Project (PSIPJ) in July 2024, aiming to train 45,000 young people through skills development and self-employment programs, partly funded by the World Bank.

Félicien Houindo Lokossou