School Dropout in Angola: An Obstacle to Progress and Development

Sofia's Dream: Overcoming Barriers to Stay in School

In Angola, attending school is still a challenge for many children. According to the National Institute of Statistics, in 2022, the dropout rate in primary education reached 11.6% of children who had been enrolled since the beginning of the academic year. The gap between urban and rural areas is even more severe for girls, who face gender-based discrimination and lack of adequate infrastructure to manage their menstrual hygiene.

Sofia, a 12-year-old girl and student at Public School No. 5039, knows these difficulties well. Still, she sees school as a place of learning, care, and personal growth. “Even though our school doesn’t have many facilities, like a proper bathroom, I love going to school and often encourage my classmates not to skip classes. A child should go to school to learn and become someone in life. Parents who want the best for their children need to support and motivate them to study,” Sofia says with conviction.

Despite the challenges, Sofia has a dream: she wants to become a lawyer and defend the rights of those treated unjustly. “My biggest dream is to be a lawyer because I see many people being treated unfairly, and I want to help them achieve the justice they deserve,” she declares.

The Impact of School Dropout

The reality, however, is that many children are unable to follow Sofia’s path.

In the municipality of Viana — formerly one of the most populated in Luanda Province before Angola’s administrative reform — Public School No. 5102 started the academic year with 1,600 students. Today, it has only 1,181 remaining — a dropout rate of nearly 30%. Headmaster Valeriano Cassinda explains that financial vulnerability is the primary factor.

“Many parents cannot provide food, clothing, or school supplies for their children,” he laments.

In addition, poor school infrastructure worsens the situation. School No. 5102, the only public primary school in the area, lacks access to water, compromising hygiene and student comfort — especially for girls. “The bathrooms don’t meet even the minimum conditions, and many girls miss up to four days of school each month due to their menstrual cycle,” Cassinda warns.

Teacher Glória Domingos, who has over 12 years of experience, confirms the situation described by the headmaster. At the beginning of the school year, her class had 70 students; now, only 62 remain.

“Hunger is the main cause of dropout. Many students come to school without having eaten, and some end up leaving to help their parents provide for the family,” she explains.

Responding to the Situation

The Mais e Melhor Educação (More and Better Education) project was launched to support the Government in changing this reality. Funded by the Finnish National Committee for UNICEF through UNICEF Angola and implemented by World Vision Angola in coordination with the Municipal Directorate of Education, the initiative tackles school dropout and aims to support around 2,500 children and adolescents, with a focus on vulnerable girls.

The project, to be implemented until October 2026 across ten schools in Viana, aims to identify and address the root causes of dropout — especially gender inequality and violence — and to strengthen efforts to reintegrate both girls and boys into the formal education system. It will also support the Ministry of Education’s Youth and Adult Education (EJA) programme to provide non-formal education and vocational training, while identifying and mitigating risks of violence in schools and along home-to-school routes, through reinforced protection and psychosocial support mechanisms.

Café Sebastião, the initiative’s coordinator, highlights that the intervention goes beyond education:

“By addressing root causes such as teenage pregnancy, child marriage, and gender-based violence, the project benefits not only children but also positively impacts their communities. By investing in education and empowering girls, we contribute to poverty reduction and social resilience.”

To achieve the project’s intended outcomes, World Vision field teams have been working closely with students, teachers, school administrators, and peer educators trained in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Families and communities have also been engaged through awareness and capacity-building sessions on school dropout and child protection issues, in partnership with the Ministry of Education (MED), Ministry of Health (MINSA), and the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Women’s Empowerment (MASFAMU).

At School No. 5102, Headmaster Cassinda acknowledges the importance of the project but notes that its impact would be even greater if coupled with economic support for families:

“Many parents withdraw their children from school because they need financial help. If there were support in that regard, the impact would be even more transformative,” he states.

With initiatives like Mais e Melhor Educação, it is hoped that girls like Sofia can continue their studies and achieve their dreams — overcoming social and economic barriers. Because every child deserves the opportunity to build a better future.