Africa-Press – Angola. President João Lourenço announced on Friday (29) in Luanda the mobilization of $500 million for the construction of new primary schools throughout the country, over the next two years, as part of measures to reduce the number of children outside the education system.
Speaking at the opening of the National Conference on Human Capital, the Head of State also mentioned the provision of €199 million to meet the specific needs of the provinces of Luanda and Icolo & Bengo for the current year, as part of the strengthening of the public school network.
According to the President, the investment includes not only the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure, but also the training and hiring of education professionals, as well as the improvement of teaching and learning conditions in the technical-vocational sector, which is being revitalized with specific teacher training programs.
João Lourenço emphasized that 85% of public schools already offer introductory classes, with enrollment reaching 64.4% in the 2024-2025 academic year, although the primary school completion rate did not exceed 61%.
The secondary school enrollment rate was 61% in the first cycle and 35% in the second cycle, limiting the growth of the higher education student population, whose gross enrollment rate is around 8%.
Furthermore, the President warned of the need to accelerate economic diversification and correct the existing mismatch between the skills acquired in the teaching-learning process and the demands of the labor market.
In his speech, President João Lourenço reiterated the Angola Executive’s commitment to promoting the Annual Program for Sending 300 Angolan undergraduates and master’s degree holders of academic merit to world-renowned universities.
He reported that this program had already benefited 823 scholarship recipients by 2024, constituting one of the most significant examples of investment in highly qualified human capital.
The National Conference on Human Capital, being held under the theme “Human Capital and the Challenges of Angola’s Development,” brings together policymakers, academics, international partners, civil society representatives, and businesspeople residing in the country and abroad.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
