Huambo - A primary school was opened on Thursday in the town of Dango, on the outskirts of the city of Huambo, to house 1,80 pupils in 12 classrooms who were studying in precarious conditions.
The work, costing 747,000 US dollars, as part of the social responsibility of the National Oil, Gas and Biofuel Agency (ANPG), Azule Energy and Block 18 partners (Sinopec and Sonangol), was inaugurated by the governor of Huambo province, Lotti Nolika.
The infrastructure, named "Complexo Escolar nº 289 Abias Costa - Dango" in honour of one of the locality's most outstanding teachers, also has administrative rooms, a multi-purpose field and other essential compartments for the functioning of the educational institution.
It is part of an initiative focussed on promoting access to education, contributing to improving the quality of teaching by providing decent school infrastructure and, above all, reducing the illiteracy and school drop-out rates in Huambo province.
At the time, the director of Azule Energy's Government and External Relations office, Hélder Silva, said that the infrastructure was the result of the great corporation's engagement with the Huambo municipal administration.
He said that the National Development Plan, for the 2023-2027 period, aims to promote and massify access to all education levels with the inclusion of the provision of school infrastructures, as the school is handed over to the local administration.
The official emphasized that the new school was well equipped and that for many it will be the second house, family and school as he considers it as a place of comfort, learning and happiness.
For this reason, he called on managers, teachers, carers and pupils to commit themselves to preserving the school, so that it is always a space with a proper environment for the formation and learning of exemplary citizens.
In turn, the provincial governor of Huambo, Lotti Nolika praised the ANPG, Azule Energy and partners of Block 18 for the construction of the school which according to her, will contribute to improve teaching and learning quality of several children in the locality of Dango and not only.
"On behalf of the entire population of Huambo, we thank you for handing over this educational facility, because whoever opens a school closes a jail”, she said.
In addition to the speeches by the ANGP and Bloco 18, messages of thanks were read out from the administrator of Huambo municipality, the honoured man's family, the parents' committee and the students.
About the honoured teacher
Professor Abias Costas, who is 80 years old and has a law degree, joined the education sector in 1973 as a teacher, having made a remarkable contribution to the teaching/learning process for hundreds of Portuguese citizens, both during the colonial era and in the post-independence period.
The retired teacher to date, served among other roles, as director of the then Normal Secondary Institute of Education (IMNE - Ferraz Bomboco), which is now a primary school. ALH/MRA
