"The conditions had already been created since last July and now we are just re-adapting them according to the recommendations. The Ministry (of Higher Education) visited some of our institutions and the conditions for the resumption of classes were confirmed," said the spokesman. AIPESPA's voice, Laurindo Viage.
Classes in the university education subsystem in Angola, suspended since last March due to the pandemic, will resume on 5 October, within the framework of the gradual measures of deflation, and will continue until July 2021.
According to Laurindo Viage, private institutions of higher education will readapt to the new recommendations with "simple measures for adults", such as mandatory use of masks, regular hand washing, physical distance and opening windows during classes .
"These minimal measures have been in place for some time," said the official, stating that in this return to classes, semi-presential education will be introduced. "For that, we also have to adapt our organization and, above all, the pedagogical methodologies to respond to these challenges", he noted.
The resumption of the academic year in higher education in Angola was evaluated, on Monday, at an extraordinary meeting of the National Council of Higher Education chaired by the minister of Angolan Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, Maria do Rosário Sambo.
In addition to the approval of the new academic calendar, which will continue until July 2021, the meeting also included the recommendation of a progressive return of students, teachers and administrative staff to the institutions, according to Laurindo Viage.
"We would start with students from the last few years and, therefore, teachers and other students as well. Teachers and staff will also return gradually," he said.
Due to financial difficulties, aggravated by the covid-19 that forced the suspension of classes last March, the institutions suspended employment contracts of about 14 thousand employees, both teaching and non-teaching staff. One fired 45 percent of its staff.
The secretary general of the Catholic University of Angola also said that AIESPA is awaiting the authorities' response to the joint decree that foresees, for this academic year, an increase of 13 percent in the fees corresponding to inflation.
"We also hope that this matter will be resolved and, according to the minister, it will depend on the Ministry of Finance", he stressed.
The costs of private higher education institutions resulting from biosafety measures were also addressed at the meeting with AIESPA, which defended state support to support "this unforeseen expense".
Aiming to restart classes, Laurindo Viage also informed that the institutions will reconfirm students already enrolled, "at no cost", to better address biosafety measures.
"Because in order to take biosafety measures, we need to know the number of students we will be able to count", he concluded.
Angola has about 50 private higher education institutions that absorb 72 percent of the higher education sub-sector in the country.
