Lisbon (Fides Service)- Reflect on the role of education in the development of Angola and Guinea Bissau and identify what is lacking in the field of Catholic education in these countries. This is the goal of the 1st meeting of Angolan and Guinean Diocesan Commissions for Education taking place in Lisbon, Portugal, 3 - 8 October. The meeting is organised by the Foundation Evangelisation and Culture started by the Catholic Church in Portugal in 1991 to strengthen relations between Portugal and Portuguese speaking countries in Africa by means of joint projects aimed above all formation in the field of school education (teachers) in Angola and Guinea Bissau and in the field of social communications (radio technicians and expansion of the network of Catholic radios in Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique.
Participants will draft a strategic plan of intervention for 2006-2007 in the field of education in Angola and Guinea Bissau, and establish a net work of contact to promote future collaboration on joint projects.
In Angola, the Catholic Church runs 13 kindergartens with 3,595, 234 primary schools with 102,893 pupils, 99 secondary schools with 40,900 students. Guinea Bissau’s Catholic schools include 21 kindergartens with 1,019 children, 36 primary schools with 8,925 pupils and 19 high schools with 4,190 students. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 5/10/2005 righe 23 parole 245)