Huambo: The director of the Education office in the province of Huambo, M¡rio Rodrigues, stated on Monday that peace has been decisive in the expansion of the school network in all communities. Speaking to ANGOP, regarding the gains of peace in the education sector, the manager said that the province controls close to 800 public schools, 44 in the public-private system and 82 in the private sector.
According to Angola Press News Agency, these institutions accommodate 887,350 students, assisted by 15,454 teachers, distributed across the 17 municipalities of the province, six of which will be institutionalized in 2025, in light of the country's new Political-Administrative Division. The sector has teachers of different academic levels, from doctors to masters, graduates and secondary with pedagogical aggregation, especially those assigned to primary education, with capabilities to contribute to sustainable development.
M¡rio Rodrigues noted that the gains of peace also facilitated the expansion of polytechnic institutes in the municipalities of Bailundo, Ca¡la, Cachiungo, Cuima, Huambo, and Longonjo. These institutes offer training in various technical and engineering areas, such as Civil Construction, IT, Agriculture, Mechanics, Food Safety, and Industry. He recalled that, in 2002, there were only two technical education institutions in the province, namely the Agricultural and Health technical institutes, with the situation having evolved in recent years, offering multiple professional training options.
He added that many of the students trained in these institutions become self-employed or are absorbed into the job market in various provinces of the country, contributing to social and economic development. Despite the advances, he highlighted challenges linked to the need to expand the school network, improve equipment, create libraries, reinforce laboratories, diversify professional internships and increase the number of teachers.
Angola annually marks the Day of Peace and National Reconciliation on April 4th, the date that marks the end of the armed conflict in 2002.
