Angola's Education Spending: How Much Per Student?

Angola's government spending on education as a proportion of GDP has been low since 1980, with all areas of education lacking adequate facilities, materials, and teachers. In 1994, for example, only 4.4% of public expenditure was allocated to education. The country's civil war consumed most of its financial gains, with a significant portion of diamond and oil revenues going towards arms and military equipment.

The literacy rate in Angola is estimated to be low, with a 2015 report placing it at 71.1% (82% male and 60.7% female). Basic adult literacy is particularly low, with a 2001 UNICEF estimate placing it at 56% for males and 29% for females.

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) assessed that Angola achieved only 36.7% of what was possible at its income level to ensure the right to education, with the country's performance labelled as very bad.

Angola's education sector has been facing challenges such as poor learning outcomes and increasing numbers of out-of-school youth. These issues are further exacerbated by demographic pressures and low investment in education, resulting in a shortage of teachers and classrooms.

However, efforts have been made to improve the situation, with the World Bank approving a 10-year program worth $550 million to support Angola's tertiary education system and address some of these issues.

Angola's education funding

Angola's education sector has been facing multiple challenges, including poor learning outcomes, a growing number of out-of-school youth, and insufficient investment in education. The World Bank approved a 10-year programme in 2023 to support Angola's tertiary education system with an initial investment of $150 million, aiming to enhance and expand the country's pre-service teacher training sector, improve programme quality, and strengthen governance within the education system. This first phase of the Tertiary Education, Science, and Technology project (TEST) is expected to benefit more than 150,000 young Angolans and will ultimately reach 3.2 million students over the next ten years.

Angola's education sector has been struggling with a shortage of teachers and classrooms, resulting in insufficient preparation for higher education. The country's demographic pressures and persistently low levels of investment in education have exacerbated these issues. Since 1980, education funding in Angola has been low, and all areas of education are in dire need of facilities, materials, and instructors. For instance, in 1994, only 4.4% of public expenditure was allocated for education, while a significant portion of the government's earnings from oil and diamond revenues in 1996 was spent on arms and military equipment.

The Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) left the education system in disarray, and the progress achieved in the preceding two decades was severely damaged. The conflict resulted in the departure of most Portuguese educators, the destruction of school buildings, and a lack of instructional materials. The war consumed most of the country's financial resources, hindering the construction of new schools and the provision of necessary books and equipment.

Despite these challenges, Angola has made efforts to improve its education system. In 2001, the Ministry of Education announced that it would require a "symbolic payment" for public education, marking a shift from the free education policy that had been in place since independence. Additionally, the government has prioritised improving adult literacy rates, which remain low, although there are conflicting figures from various sources.

Adult literacy rates

Basic adult literacy rates in Angola are low, with conflicting figures from the government and other sources. No reliable census has been taken since 1970, making it difficult to assess literacy and other educational needs.

According to 2015 estimates, the literacy rate in Angola is 71.1% (82% male and 60.7% female). However, other sources cite different figures. Statistics available in 2001 from UNICEF estimate adult literacy to be 56% for males and 29% for women. A report from the First Party Congress published in December 1977 estimated the level of illiteracy following independence to be between 85% and 90%. By 1985, after a major literacy campaign, the average rate of adult literacy was officially estimated at 59%. In contrast, the US government estimated literacy at only 20%.

The low literacy rates in Angola can be attributed to various factors, including the lack of access to education, especially in rural areas, and the impact of the civil war. During the civil war, most Portuguese educators left the country, many buildings were damaged, and the availability of instructional materials was limited.

The Angolan government has made efforts to improve literacy rates, such as implementing a compulsory education system and prioritizing education in their plans. However, funding for education has been low, and there is a shortage of qualified instructors and adequate educational facilities, materials, and resources.

Primary school enrolment

Historically, primary school attendance in Angola has been on a positive trajectory, especially since the country's independence from Portugal in 1975. Despite the challenges posed by the civil war and its impact on the education system, the Angolan government has prioritised education, aiming to provide free and compulsory basic education for children. This commitment is reflected in initiatives such as the eight-year compulsory education system instituted by the First Party Congress in 1977.

However, enrolment numbers have been affected by several factors. Firstly, the civil war disrupted the education of hundreds of thousands of children, and the subsequent resettlement and rapid urbanisation have led to overcrowding in schools. Additionally, there is a shortage of qualified teachers, with reports indicating that many instructors are underpaid, inadequately trained, and overworked. This shortage is more pronounced in secondary schools, but it also affects primary education.

Moreover, social and economic inequalities play a role in enrolment rates. There are significant disparities in enrolment between rural and urban areas, with higher percentages of boys attending school than girls. Issues such as the presence of landmines, lack of resources and identity papers, poor health, and the demand for children to contribute to household income also prevent regular school attendance.

The Angolan government has taken steps to address these challenges by implementing various programs and collaborating with international organisations. For example, in 2004, the government, in partnership with UNICEF, recruited and trained 29,000 new primary school teachers, resulting in a significant increase in student enrolment. Additionally, the government has sought to improve the education system by adopting the "Cuban system," a Cuban teaching method, in several provinces, with plans to expand it nationwide.

Secondary school enrolment

In 1977, the Angolan government reported that about 105,000 secondary school students were enrolled, roughly double the number enrolled in 1973. However, it is unclear what proportion of the relevant age group these students constituted. It may have been a tenth to an eighth.

Official government statistics released in 1984 showed that secondary school enrolment (including vocational school and teacher training students) had increased to 151,759. This made for a combined primary and secondary school enrolment of 49% of the school-age population. By 1986, primary school enrolment had increased to 1,304,145, but it is unclear what the secondary school enrolment was during this year.

The Angolan Civil War (1975-2002) left the education system in disarray, and the progress achieved in the preceding two decades was significantly damaged. The war resulted in the departure of most Portuguese secondary school staff, damage to school buildings, and limited access to instructional materials. The war also disrupted the education of hundreds of thousands of children, as many schools were looted and destroyed, leading to problems with overcrowding.

In 1995, 71.2% of children aged 7 to 14 years were attending school, with higher percentages of boys than girls. However, it is unclear what proportion of these were enrolled in secondary school.

The government has implemented various programs to improve education in Angola, including recruiting and training new primary school teachers and constructing new primary schools. However, it is unclear what specific impact these programs have had on secondary school enrolment.

Teacher training

The quality of teaching in Angola is a significant concern. While primary-level instruction was deemed reasonable, it was often conducted by Africans with minimal qualifications. According to a 2015 estimate, 75% of native Angolan teachers are only minimally qualified to teach at the primary level, having completed just four to six years of schooling themselves. This issue is more pronounced at the secondary school level, where there is an even greater shortage of qualified instructors.

To address these challenges, Angola has implemented various measures to improve teacher training and address the shortage of qualified educators:

• International humanitarian organizations' programs: These organizations have developed promising teacher-training programs, with plans to expand them across the country. One such example is the Future Teachers program in central Angola, which requires one and a half years of training, a one-year internship, and a commitment to teach in a rural school. The program utilizes 30 networked computers with CD instructional material to overcome the lack of printed resources.
• Recruitment campaigns: In 1987, the JMPLA launched a campaign to recruit 1,000 young people, including secondary school and higher education graduates, to teach in primary schools in Luanda Province.
• Cooperation with allies: The Angolan government worked closely with allies like Cuba and the Soviet Union, bringing in hundreds of teachers from these countries. About 5,000 Angolan students also received education in Cuba and the Soviet Union.
• Teacher training and community programs: Some programs have included specialized training for adults working with former child soldiers, war-affected children, and children at risk of engaging in the worst forms of child labour. These programs aim to provide relevant teaching techniques, resources, curricula, and support to meet the unique needs of this population.
• National child registration campaign: In collaboration with UNICEF, the Angolan government conducted a national child registration campaign, documenting 3.8 million children under the age of 18 since August 2002.
• Back-to-School campaign: In partnership with UNICEF, the Angolan government recruited and trained 29,000 new primary school teachers for the 2004 school year, resulting in an increase of nearly 1 million students, primarily in grades 1 through 4.
• "Cuban system" implementation: Beginning in 2009, Angola's Education Ministry introduced a Cuban teaching method in selected provinces, aiming to improve literacy rates and expand access to education.

Despite these efforts, teacher training in Angola continues to face challenges due to poor teaching conditions, low pay, and a lack of resources. As a result, teacher absenteeism and turnover remain high, impacting the quality of education provided to students.

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