Luanda, Dec. 15, 2025 (Lusa) - Angola's Minister of Education said on Monday that the government plans to hire an additional 6,000 teachers in 2026 and that its priority is to complete projects already underway.
Luísa Grilo, speaking to the press after the approval of the draft General State Budget (OGE) for 2026, said that the completion of work already begun in some schools is planned, as well as the provision of the necessary equipment.
"It is not possible to solve all the problems in just one year, but what we have is programmed according to the priorities we have set," said Luísa Grilo, adding that, depending on the financial resources allocated, 6,000 new teachers will be hired next year.
The 2026 draft state budget, which passed with 120 votes in favour and 79 against from the parliamentary group of UNITA, the largest opposition party, estimates revenues and expenditures at 33.2 billion kwanzas (€31 billion), of which 200.4 billion kwanzas (€185.1 million) are earmarked for the education sector.
Today, the Angolan National Teachers' Union (Sinprof) announced that a strike had been called, starting on 15th January, to demand better working conditions, salary adjustments and the payment of subsidies, lamenting the "shameful" budget allocation for education.
Among other issues, Sinprof is calling for a separate budget allocation for schools, sourced from the state budget, better working conditions for teachers, as well as a salary adjustment in view of the disparities with similar professional categories, and the timely distribution of school textbooks to primary school pupils.
"It is shameful that Angola, a country that claims to be rich, has approved a budget for education of less than 10%. We have not moved beyond 6% in terms of education, and once again the Angolan government has disregarded international decisions," lamented Sinprof leader Hermínia do Nascimento in statements to Lusa.
A study on the quality of education over the last 20 years, released at the opening of the “Forum on Public Education Financing”, shows the “poor investment” in education in Angola, with 60% of state schools without running water.
Angolan minister of finance Vera Daves de Sousa, when speaking to the press at the end of the approval of the 2026 state budget, also highlighted the introduction of some new features in this budget, which, if implemented, "will very much improve the provision of public services", for example, in the maintenance costs of schools and hospitals.
"Schools will receive resources directly, without having to go through the ministry of education or provincial health departments, making resources directly available to dependent bodies. These are small operational details that seem simple, but which greatly change the speed and rapidity with which resources are made available to those who need them on the ground," said Vera Daves de Sousa.
NME/AYLS // AYLS
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