PALOP: Better Education and Training Needed
Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP) face significant challenges with regard to technical and vocational education and training, as indicated in a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
This document highlights the importance of improving these areas to meet labor market needs and foster economic growth.
Educational Disparities
The OECD report highlights the heterogeneity in educational attainment and the distribution of job skills among the PALOP countries, which include Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and São Tomé and Príncipe. The shortage of qualified teachers is highlighted as one of the main obstacles to young people's access to quality education.
The secondary education completion rate is particularly low, with Mozambique having a rate of 15%, Angola 28,9%, Cape Verde 29,5% and São Tomé and Príncipe 38,9%, the only country above the African average of 30,4%, according to 2023 UNESCO data.
Initiatives and Partnerships
Several initiatives have been implemented to address these educational gaps. The Camões Institute, for example, has implemented training programs to develop the capabilities of education professionals in Angola (Saber+), Guinea-Bissau (PRECASE8), and São Tomé and Príncipe (PAISE-STP9).
Furthermore, a memorandum of understanding between Cape Verde and Portugal, signed in 2023, aims to create investments in six strategic areas, including digital, metallurgy, construction, social sector, tourism and energy transition.
Another notable example is the PROCULTURA PALOP-Timor-Leste Program, with a budget of €19 million, which sought to develop artistic and management skills while simultaneously boosting revenue-generating and job-creating activities in the creative industries. This project highlights the importance of supporting cultural and creative sectors as drivers of economic development.
Technical and Professional Training
Technical and Vocational Training (TVET) is seen by the OECD as a crucial pathway for young people's transition into the labor market. With youth unemployment rates ranging from 4% in Guinea-Bissau to 28% in Cape Verde, TVET offers an opportunity to bridge skills gaps and promote employment in priority sectors.
Mozambique is one of the countries that invests most in education. The +EMPREGO project, co-financed by the European Union and the Camões Institute, aims to provide professional integration for 1.200 young people aged 15 to 25, promoting better qualifications and public-private partnerships.
Another relevant project in Mozambique is the Enhanced Skills Development, in partnership with the World Bank, which aims to improve the quality of education in secondary and TVET institutions, aligning them with the needs of the labor market.
These types of initiatives demonstrate how international collaboration can be vital to strengthening education and vocational training systems.
Investment in Education
The OECD report highlights the need to increase investment in education in Africa, particularly in the Portuguese-speaking African countries (PALOP), highlighting that African governments, on average, invest 3,7% of their GDP in education, slightly below international benchmarks.
Improving access to and the quality of skills development will help Africa harness the growth potential of a rapidly growing and increasingly skilled workforce of young Africans. Skills shortages, especially in sectors such as agri-food, renewable energy, and mining, hinder private investment, according to the report.
Research indicates that 85% of the total projected increase in the global working-age population by 2050 will occur in Africa, making the development of a skilled workforce even more crucial. Improving the quality and quantity of education, along with better employment opportunities, is crucial to increasing productivity and fostering economic growth.
Conclusion
Improving the quality of education and technical and professional training in the PALOP countries is essential to prepare young people for the challenges of the job market and foster economic development.
Initiatives such as teacher training and international partnerships are important steps toward closing existing gaps and promoting a brighter future for young people in these countries.
Collaboration between governments, international organizations, and the private sector can maximize synergies, reduce skills gaps, and boost employment in priority sectors, thus contributing to sustainable and inclusive development.
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Picture: © 2018 Desola Lanre-Ologun / Unsplash
