Luanda - A feasibility study for the rehabilitation of ten Agrarian Institutes in the country has been underway since last December by the French Agency for Development - AFD (Agence Française de Développement).
According to the AFD consultant, Celinda Rodrigues, the project aims to address some weaknesses in the training of agricultural technicians trained in these institutions, since many have difficulties in entering university, competing in the job market, undertaking in the field or developing a rural extension activity.
The French initiative is part of a feasibility study for the Support Project for Agricultural Technical Institutes (ITA) in Angola.
The programme, which will be prepared by AFD, precedes a thorough survey of the state of operation of ten institutes in the country.
The consultant informed that the study started with the province of Cuando Cubango, at the Agrarian Institute of Missombo and has already covered the institutions of Dango (Huambo province), Kapangambe (Namibe), Tchivinguiro (Huila), Bimbas (Benguela), Waco Kungo (Cuanza Sul), Negage (Uíge) and Camuaxi (Cuanza Norte).
As in other institutes, in Cuanza Norte the delegation met with officials from the Provincial Government, the directorate of Agriculture, Education and the Institute, as well as teachers and students, to assess the difficulties in the functioning of the institution.
On her perspective It is intended that the project be prepared according to the needs of each institute.
Regarding the conditions of the institutes, she said that in general the problems are the same - degradation of infrastructure, competence problems in teaching staff, lack of laboratories and practical classes, as well as precarious accommodation of boarding students, difficulties in sanitation and food.
The Cuanza Norte´s Agrarian institute is in existence since 2008. It teaches the basic courses on Agricultural Mechanization, and the medium courses on Animal Production, Plant Production and Forest Resources.
This academic year has enrolled about 300 students.
