Angola has officially launched its 2024/2025 academic year with a record-breaking enrollment of 9.7 million students, including 1.9 million new pupils entering the school system for the first time. The announcement, made by the Minister of Education, marks a significant milestone in the country’s ongoing efforts to expand access to education and strengthen its human capital. This surge in enrollment reflects both demographic growth and the government’s commitment to integrating more children into formal education, particularly in underserved regions.
To accommodate this influx, Angola has mobilized over 12,500 schools and 120,000 classrooms nationwide, demonstrating a substantial investment in educational infrastructure. Authorities have emphasized that the expansion is not merely quantitative but also part of a broader strategy to improve the quality of education. Efforts are underway to recruit and train more teachers, update curricula, and ensure that learning environments are safe, inclusive, and conducive to academic success.
The new school year also signals a renewed focus on reducing educational disparities across the country. By prioritizing access for children in rural and economically disadvantaged areas, the government aims to close gaps in literacy, school attendance, and academic performance. Officials have highlighted the importance of education in fostering national development, social cohesion, and long-term economic resilience.
While challenges remain, such as overcrowded classrooms, resource limitations, and regional inequalities, the scale and ambition of this year’s enrollment figures underscore Angola’s determination to build a more educated and empowered generation. The start of the academic year is being celebrated as a moment of national progress, with hopes that continued investment and reform will yield lasting benefits for students, families, and the country as a whole.