Huila: A research conducted by the Center for Research and Development in Education (CIDE) of ISCED-Huila has highlighted that the San ethnic minority in southern Angola experiences varying levels of educational inclusion across different provinces. The study indicates that Huila is better positioned in terms of school inclusion for this community compared to Cunene and Cubango.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the findings were released at a technical seminar held across the provinces of Huila, Cunene, and Cubango. The results reveal that while Huila shows better access to education, there remains a high exclusion rate in all regions. The study, conducted over two years, involved 975 families and a total of 3,735 individuals distributed across various municipalities.
In Huila, which accounted for 60 percent of the study's sample, researchers focused on the municipalities of Cacula, Chibia, Lubango, Jamba, Quipungo, and Matala. The report indicates that 65.9 percent of the San population in Huila has no formal education, though 30 percent reported receiving some level of schooling. However, the municipalities of Jamba Mineira and Chibia present concerning data, with over 90 percent of the group lacking access to formal education.
In contrast, Cunene's situation appears more critical, as the survey conducted in Cuanhama, Cuvelai, and Namacunde municipalities found that 98.8 percent of the population did not receive any formal education. An additional concern in Namacunde is the lack of official documentation among the surveyed population, with many lacking identity cards or other official documents.
The study also explored the province of Cubango, covering the municipalities of Menongue and Cuito Cuanavale, where a strong reliance on traditional gathering and hunting activities was observed. Vladi Pereira, the coordinator of CIDE, emphasized that collecting wild fruits, honey, and mushrooms continues to be a vital source of livelihood, alongside agriculture and livestock farming, which are the primary economic activities in the region.
The research further highlighted that around 80 percent of families rely on untreated water sources, such as streams and unprotected wells, often traveling long distances to access water. Based on these findings, the researchers recommend implementing specific public policies for the San communities, including mobile schools, civil registration campaigns, and improved access to essential services like drinking water, health, and education.
The San community, one of the first peoples in Angola, faces the risk of extinction partly due to the influence of foreign dietary habits and the impacts of climate change on their traditional lifestyle, which once centered on hunting and gathering.
