Angola - Youth pass with flying colours

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Youth Inclusion and Education - Committed to empowering socially at-risk young people

Students working in a classroom at one of the Eiffel schools.

In 2014, 174 young Angolans took the baccalauréat (secondary school leaving exam) after completing their studies at Eiffel schools. The Angolan Ministry of National Education is scheduled to take over full management of these Total-funded institutions by 2017.

“The Eiffel schools grew out of a cooperative effort between the Angolan Ministry of Education, Total and the Mission laïque française in 2008,” says Dr João Cafuquena, National Director of General Education. “Four secondary schools were created in the provinces of Bengo, Cuanza Norte, Cuene and Malanje.” These schools, which provide an education mainly focused on mathematics and the physical and biological sciences, are meant for students of lower secondary school level. One of them, Manuel João, pursued his education by taking on a series of odd jobs and enduring long walks to school until taking the entrance exam to the Malanje school, which has registration fees. “I’m proud of having studied there because it allowed me to become someone who can contribute to the development of the Angolan society,” says the former student.“The school taught me to solve various types of problems. I especially learned to work in a laboratory for the sugar and bioenergy industries, which is a unique and important one in Angola.”

A long-term investment

Since 2011, the Eiffel schools have been achieving a 94% success rate on the baccalauréat (secondary school leaving exam), all classes combined. “These schools set the standard in the local education system,” says Dr Cafuquena. “They have greatly helped improve the quality of éducation and learning in Angola and regularly conduct training programs for their teachers and assistant principals as well as staff from other public schools. The trainings aim for better performance by improving the schools organization, administrative management and quality of instruction. This effort is especially important in Angola given the insufficient number of public schools in the country.”