Distance learning reached only 20% of Angolan schools in times of Covid-19

Only 20% of Angolan schools managed to implement distance learning during the suspension of face-to-face classes due to Covid-19, revealed a survey by the Ministry of Education (MED).

According to the report from that public body, practically 80% of national schools were unable to implement distance learning, which had been stipulated by the competent authorities, within the scope of precautionary and distancing measures to face the forced suspension of face-to-face classes, starting in March from 2020.

The investigation called “Study on the Impact of Covid-19 on the Education Sector in Angola”, authored by the MED and the United Nations Children's Fund, was released at the end of July and which showed that, despite the Ministry of Education has implemented the tele-lessons and radio-lessons program, only a small number of teachers and students used these tools to study.

According to the Angolan weekly newspaper Novo Jornal, among the defaulters, the justification given is the lack of electricity, radio and television in the localities where they operate.

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The study also concluded that for schools where the distance learning system was implemented, the most noted learning methods were assigning tasks to students, in order to study autonomously, and where others chose to use means of communication. and messaging services for assigning new tasks.

Despite these methods created, few students participated in the activities, as some parents did not come to the school to collect the contents for their children. In short, continues the study, about 70,6% of parents did not receive materials or assistance in kind from their children's schools, in order to support sustained learning during the pandemic.