Luanda - At least 15 % of students enrolled in primary and secondary education between 2020 and 2021 dropped out school.
The statistics are contained in studies on the impact of Covid-19 on the education system released on Thursday in Luanda by Education Ministry( MED) and UNICEF.
Official data points out that in 2020/2021 academic year, over 10 million students have been enrolled in general educational system, with 3.1 million for the first time.
The MED Statistical Planning Office director, Irene Neto, attributed the dropout to the closure of schools in 2020, a measure taken to curb the spreading of Covid-19 virus.
Studies show that the highest percentage of dropouts was recorded in males in rural areas in secondary schools, compared to primary schools.
Provinces of Benguela, Cunene, Cuanza Norte, Cuanza Sul, Cabinda and Huíla topped the list.
As for the Minister of Education, Luísa Grilo, the study aims to evaluate aspects related to distance learning to know the reasons for dropouts in the Covid-19 period.
It was also intended to assess the attendance of children, adolescents and young people during the period when schools are closed.
According to Luísa Grilo, the study also aims to assess compliance with the guidelines on the part of schools to cover the period of missed classes, compliance with the curriculum plan, among other aspects.
In turn, UNICEF representative Ivam Yorevi, said that the institution's report points to almost 156 million students who lost over half of face-to-face teaching
over the last two years, worldwide.
And more than 62 million students lost three quarters of face-to-face education, corresponding to two trillion teaching hours lost.