In June, another edition of the People’s Exam was held in the provinces of Cubango and Cuando—an emblematic activity of ADPP Angola’s Teacher Training Schools. Period 14, under the theme “I became a different kind of teacher,” took place in three municipalities – Caiundo, Menongue, and Cuito Cuanavale – covering both provinces.
The main objective was to assess the journey and impact of the final teaching practice of 55 future teachers trained at the ADPP Teacher Training Schools in these two provinces. Throughout the academic year, the trainees implemented 20 community-based microprojects aimed at addressing local challenges and strengthening the connection between schools, communities, and quality education.
Beyond its evaluative component, the People’s Exam represented a valuable opportunity to listen to the communities. During visits to the implementation sites, testimonies were collected, and the tangible effects of the microprojects were observed on the ground—visible in both educational and social dimensions.
The data collected made it possible to analyse the relevance and sustainability of the initiatives: the number of people involved, the quality of partnerships established, resources mobilised, and above all, the transformations perceived by the communities themselves.
Throughout the week, significant changes were observed. The testimonies and observations revealed not only the professional growth of the trainees but also the positive impact of a pedagogical approach rooted in action and deeply anchored in local contexts.
The People’s Exam remains a hallmark of the teacher training provided by ADPP’s schools: an evaluation with the people, on the ground, with eyes fixed on reality, social transformation, and the building of a new generation of teachers committed to the development of their communities.
Primary School No. 2 of Oleca, located in the municipality of Massango, Malanje province, held a recreational and educational event in June to mark the end of the 2024/2025 academic year. The activity brought together students, teachers, parents, and community members.
The initiative aimed to symbolically mark the transition from the “old school” to a “New Type of School,” reinforcing the commitment to education based on the values of participation, inclusion, and citizenship. The programme included a moment of togetherness and cultural activities developed by the students themselves.
One of the highlights was the performance of the play Domestic Violence, which sought to raise awareness within the community about the consequences of this ongoing issue in Angolan society. Prepared by the students, the play highlighted the impact of violence within families and emphasized the importance of reporting and prevention, as provided by Law No. 25/11 of August 12.
During the event, merit diplomas were awarded to the most outstanding students and teachers of the school year. In addition to this symbolic recognition, awardees received school supplies as an incentive. The ceremony was attended by the school director, traditional authorities, church representatives, and members of the educational community.
The preparation of the event took place over three months and involved the mobilization of both human and material resources, as well as strong engagement from the entire school. The school’s management emphasized the importance of partnership with the community, whose active contribution made the initiative fully possible.
Literacy is one of the fundamental pillars for the development of any country. In Angola, improving literacy rates—especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities—remains a persistent challenge. To address this, ADPP in partnership with the Ministry of Education’s National Directorate for Youth and Adult Education, organized an intensive training course for literacy trainers.
The training took place from 17 to 21 of March at the ADPP Courses and Conferences centre in Luanda. The official opening was led by Dr. Evaristo Pedro, National Director for Youth and Adult Education, who highlighted the importance of strengthening educator training to ensure that all citizens, regardless of age, have access to quality education.
The course aimed train trainers to equip educators working in youth and adult literacy with updated pedagogical approaches, effective strategies, and practical teaching tools to enhance learning outcomes.
ADPP Angola’s Executive Director, Ms. Agneta Dahne, emphasized the importance of the long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Education. She noted: “We have a strong history with the Ministry dating back to 1986, focusing on literacy, accelerated learning, youth and adult education, and since 1995, vocational and teacher training for rural areas.” She also stressed the need for more literacy trainers, saying: “ADPP and the communities need more trainers to continue expanding access to education.” In her remarks, she recalled that ADPP Angola and the MED, through the National Directorate for Youth and Adult Education, signed a Cooperation Agreement on 19 March 2024 to promote functional literacy in Angola. “This training was organized under that agreement, and ADPP is committed to carrying it forward,” she added.
A total of 23 literacy trainers from ADPP community projects participated in both theoretical and practical sessions. These trainers will now go on to train and certify additional educators involved in literacy work.
During the closing ceremony, Feliciano Zeferino Palanga, speaking on behalf of the trainers, stressed the importance of expanding local training efforts to reach more literacy workers. “We came from different parts of the country with the goal of gaining knowledge and leaving here ready to apply everything we’ve learned—methodologies, techniques, and tools that will help spark interest and improve understanding among our future learners,” he said. He also committed to sharing what they had learned with Provincial and Municipal Education Offices where the programme is being implemented.
Closing the event, Ms. Agneta Dahne reaffirmed the role of literacy in both individual and collective development. “We celebrate a victory with each module completed and each activity explored. With the commitment you’ve shown to educating young people and adults, I’m confident that each of you has grown in a unique way. You leave not only with knowledge, but also with new friendships and a support network that can be very valuable going forward,” she said.
Literacy is one of the fundamental pillars for the development of any country. In Angola, improving literacy rates—especially in rural and hard-to-reach communities—remains a persistent challenge. To address this, ADPP in partnership with the Ministry of Education’s National Directorate for Youth and Adult Education, organized an intensive training course for literacy trainers.
The training took place from 17 to 21 of March at the ADPP Courses and Conferences centre in Luanda. The official opening was led by Dr. Evaristo Pedro, National Director for Youth and Adult Education, who highlighted the importance of strengthening educator training to ensure that all citizens, regardless of age, have access to quality education.
The course aimed train trainers to equip educators working in youth and adult literacy with updated pedagogical approaches, effective strategies, and practical teaching tools to enhance learning outcomes.
ADPP Angola’s Executive Director, Ms. Agneta Dahne, emphasized the importance of the long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Education. She noted: “We have a strong history with the Ministry dating back to 1986, focusing on literacy, accelerated learning, youth and adult education, and since 1995, vocational and teacher training for rural areas.” She also stressed the need for more literacy trainers, saying: “ADPP and the communities need more trainers to continue expanding access to education.” In her remarks, she recalled that ADPP Angola and the MED, through the National Directorate for Youth and Adult Education, signed a Cooperation Agreement on 19 March 2024 to promote functional literacy in Angola. “This training was organized under that agreement, and ADPP is committed to carrying it forward,” she added.
A total of 23 literacy trainers from ADPP community projects participated in both theoretical and practical sessions. These trainers will now go on to train and certify additional educators involved in literacy work.
During the closing ceremony, Feliciano Zeferino Palanga, speaking on behalf of the trainers, stressed the importance of expanding local training efforts to reach more literacy workers. “We came from different parts of the country with the goal of gaining knowledge and leaving here ready to apply everything we’ve learned—methodologies, techniques, and tools that will help spark interest and improve understanding among our future learners,” he said. He also committed to sharing what they had learned with Provincial and Municipal Education Offices where the programme is being implemented.
Closing the event, Ms. Agneta Dahne reaffirmed the role of literacy in both individual and collective development. “We celebrate a victory with each module completed and each activity explored. With the commitment you’ve shown to educating young people and adults, I’m confident that each of you has grown in a unique way. You leave not only with knowledge, but also with new friendships and a support network that can be very valuable going forward,” she said.
I recently had the honour of representing Angola as part of ADPP’s delegation at UNESCO in Paris. Our Teacher Training Schools, where I proudly teach, were recognized as one of the Top 10 finalists for the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development. This global honour celebrates projects with significant impact that align closely with UNESCO’s goals for quality education for all, and being chosen from 102 initiatives worldwide is an immense achievement for Angola!
Being in Paris on World Teachers’ Day, we had the opportunity to showcase Angola’s contributions to global education. Standing at UNESCO alongside the Chairperson of our Board of Directors, I felt the pride of representing everyone involved with ADPP’s Teacher Training Schools—students, graduates, parents, educators, the Ministry of Education, and all our partners. Our schools don’t just teach; we train future teachers to serve rural communities and address real challenges like poverty, sustainability, and health. Our students take charge of their learning and prepare to become leaders in their communities.
UNESCO emphasized the importance of this recognition, stating,
“These ten finalists represent the forefront of global efforts to improve education quality, offering innovative solutions to challenges faced by teachers and students. Their commitment to empowering educators, enhancing learning environments, and fostering community involvement continues to make a lasting impact on teaching practices and student outcomes worldwide.”
Meeting the other finalists was equally inspiring. We learned about Norway’s approach to active learning, which centres on collaborative methods and practical engagement with sustainability—elements essential for our rural schools. Bangladesh demonstrated the importance of involving the whole community in school management, something we can build on in Angola to strengthen community ties. China shared their approach to teacher leadership, equipping teachers to be mentors and role models, which closely aligns with our goal to develop passionate, community-focused educators. These examples encouraged me to think about ways we can bring similar innovations to our own Teacher Training Schools.
This recognition strengthens ADPP’s mission to empower Angolan teachers for the communities that need them most. It’s a responsibility and a privilege I carry with renewed pride and dedication.
Luís Cahisso, Teacher Training School - ADPP Cuanza Norte
Herculano António, Ernestina Panda, Rildo Francisco, and Ester Gonçalves took first prize in Africa's largest school science competition with their project focused on bringing accessible water and energy to district communities.
The four 10th-grade students from the Telecommunications Institute (ITEL) developed a project featuring a solar-powered system that extracts groundwater using a drill. Some of the water is stored, while the rest powers a machine to generate electricity.
With their project, the ITEL students aim to make water and energy distribution more accessible and practical for urban districts.
STEM Africa is a collaborative initiative between the ExxonMobil Foundation and Junior Achievement (JA) Africa, implemented by ADPP Angola. It aims to prepare young people for the future of work by teaching them to use Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics to address social challenges. It also encourages young Africans to participate in solving real-world issues.
The competition includes participants from several African countries, with a focus on Namibia, Mozambique, Nigeria, and South Africa. The STEM Africa event took place in Cape Town, one of South Africa's largest cities, on November 4th and 5th 2024.
