Tropentag, October 11 - 13, 2006 in Bonn "Prosperity and Poverty in a Globalized World – Challenges for Agricultural Research"

Evaluation and Perspectives of Agricultural Education in Bié Province, Angola

Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Institute of Tropics and Subtropics, Czech Republic

Abstract

The presentation is based on personal experience with one year teaching at the secondary Agricultural school provided within the project “Establishment of the Centre of Agricultural Education in Bié Province, Angola”. The project has been realised by the Institute of Tropics and Subtropics (Czech University of Agriculture in Prague) and supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic as a bilateral development project from 2003 to 2005.

The 27 years civil war in Angola caused massive destruction of the country's infrastructure, disruption of markets, interruptions in the transfer of knowledge, social and economic instability. Several generations have grown up with only a minimum approach to education which is fundamental for the eradication of poverty and plays a crucial role in economic, social and cultural development. Although a former Portuguese colony has a huge agricultural potential, agricultural production is low. The establishment of quality agricultural education system is essential for a reconstruction of the sector of agriculture. The Bié Province situated on the central plateau in the middle of Angola is one of the most affected areas by the civil war.

The poster includes main problems identified in agricultural education and recommendations of its improvement. Knowledge of the majority of the students coming from basic schools is very low. Basic and secondary schools, particularly rural schools, do not function properly in the province due to lack of qualified local teachers. The quality of teaching is also impacted by the high number of students in classroom; the average number of students in class is around 50. Rate between boys and girls in classroom is unfavourable to girls; the same gender inequality is also evident between teaching staff. Although there is demand for education students have not adequate access to information sources. The local library has been destroyed during the civil war and access to Internet is scarce and expensive. The learning materials are usually incomplete; laboratories for practical training are poorly technically equipped or are missing.

Keywords: Agriculture, Angola, Bié Province, curriculum development, education and training

Contact Address: Petra Holikova, Czech University of Agriculture in Prague, Institute of Tropics and Subtropics, Kamycka 129, 165 21 Prague 6, Czech Republic, e-mail: secretarynatura.czu.cz