Education and Schools in Angola

Most expat parents in Angola prefer private education and especially that provided at international schools, due to the generally low standards in the country's public institutions.

Public schools in Angola

The standard of local education is well below what most expats will be used to. Lack in funding, poor infrastructure and sub-par expertise have led to poor overall public education with oversized classes. This has led many expats in Angola to choose a private route for their children at one of the country's international schools.

International and private 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 are often unable to 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 give priority to the children of embassy workers or employees of the founding company, so expats should apply ahead of time.

In the case of relocation for employment purposes, education costs are usually paid by the hiring company. If an expat's compensation package does not specifically include an education allowance, it's well worth bringing up, as the costs at these schools are usually extremely high. Expats who are simply paid a salary without stipends or extras should be sure that their budget can accommodate these fees and other associated costs such as uniforms, school lunches, excursions and extra-curriculars.

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 backup systems for electricity, water and internet. That said, this shouldn't be taken as a given, and parents should ensure they do plenty of research before choosing a school.

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 adequately serve these students. As Angola continues to struggle with providing a good quality of mainstream education and increasing 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.

Privately, there are international schools that offer support for learning disabilities as well as 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.