Education and Schools in Angola

The standard of education and schools in Angola is far below what many expats are used to. Although the Angolan government is working towards tackling illiteracy in the country, the public education system is still marred by decaying infrastructure and outdated teaching methods.

Therefore, you’ll find that many expat parents moving to Angola enrol their children in private schools. This is typically in world-renowned international schools that will allow their children to continue learning their home country’s curriculum and language.

Public schools in Angola

After almost three decades of civil war, Angola’s education system is still on the mend, and a sense of normalcy has only returned to public schools in the last few years. The first phase of education in Angola is primary school, which lasts four years and is the only compulsory stage of schooling.

In large cities like Luanda, you’ll find secondary schools that typically offer an education for another seven years. Thereafter, children can go into vocational training or the less common tertiary school in the form of universities.

International schools in Angola

The private school sector in Angola is small and largely comprised of international schools mainly attended by expat children, as local families often cannot afford private schooling.

International schools in Angola, most of which can be found in Luanda, are typically sponsored by a company or embassy with a presence in the country. These schools teach a foreign curriculum, such as the British, French or International Baccalaureate, allowing expat children to earn globally recognised school-leaving certifications. Some international schools prioritise the children of embassy workers or employees of the founding company, so you should apply in advance.

When you’re relocating for employment purposes, education costs are usually paid by the hiring company. If your compensation package does not specifically include an education allowance, it’s well worth mentioning, as the costs at these schools are usually extremely high.

If you are simply paid a salary without stipends or extras, you should be sure that your budget can accommodate these fees and other associated costs such as uniforms, school lunches, excursions, and extracurricular activities.

Security is tight at all schools, so safety shouldn’t be a concern. In most cases, international schools offer a good standard of education and have high-quality facilities replete with a variety of luxury amenities. Classrooms are generally air-conditioned with reliable electricity, water and internet backup systems. Still, this shouldn’t be taken as a given, and parents should ensure they do plenty of research before choosing a school.

Read more about International Schools in Angola

Special-needs education in Angola

While the right for special-needs individuals to receive an education is enshrined in Angolan law, the country has long struggled to serve these students adequately. As Angola struggles to provide a good quality of mainstream education and increase countrywide literacy rates, special-needs education is similarly underserved in the public sector.

There are plans to integrate special-needs students into mainstream schools, converting existing special-needs schools into support centres that provide training and resources for teachers at mainstream schools. There are also more than 20 special-needs education schools across Angola, with most of them located in Luanda.

Privately, there are international schools that offer support for learning disabilities and those who need extra support, such as non-English-speaking students. This often comes at an additional cost.

Tutors in Angola

Tutoring is not widely used in Angola, and parents will be hard-pressed to find a tutor locally. Parents can try asking around for recommendations from their child’s school or other expat parents.

Another option worth considering is hiring a tutor online for remote tutoring. This way, parents can take their pick of tutors across the world, whatever their child’s tuition needs, be they transitioning to a new curriculum or requiring assistance in a particular subject or language. Popular platforms like TeacherOn, Apprentus, and Superprof offer various services.

Useful links

• TeacherOn
• Apprentus
• Superprof