"Despite the recognized progress, immense difficulties still persist in obtaining statistical data from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), in quality and quantity, within the determined deadlines", said this Thursday minister Maria dos Rosário Bragança, at the event opening ceremony for the 2023/2024 academic year.
In her intervention, the minister highlighted the relevance of data in the management of HEIs, warning that, under the terms of the law, failure to provide statistical information within the set deadlines "constitutes a statistical transgression" punishable by a fine.
Statistical data, she noted, "are not just numbers, they are strong tools, like a compass that guides us to properly informed choices for the path of knowledge and progress."
"Without robust data" on the sector, due to the fact that only 43 of the 97 active HEIs have sent data to the ministerial entity, Maria do Rosário Bragança only presented "preliminary and incomplete" data on access to higher education in the academic year that begins.
The initial deadline established for HEIs to submit statistical information to the Ministry of Higher Education was September 20, she recalled.
The minister presented data from 97 HEIs, 28 public and 69 private, stating that for the academic year 2023/2024, 230,732 places were authorized, 29,860 for the public sector and the remainder for private institutions.
Maria do Rosário Sambo said that only 43 HEIs out of the 97 planned provided information on access to higher education, 13 of which were public (representing 46 percent of public HEIs) and 30 private (representing 43 percent of private HEIs).
"In total, 56 percent of public and private HEIs did not send the information", highlighted the minister.
Also referring to the "preliminary and incomplete" data, the minister noted that around three candidates per place were registered in public HEIs and less than one candidate per place in private HEIs.
She also regretted the existence of "serious non-conformities" still registered in access to Angolan higher education, "despite all the pedagogical and preventive action that has been carried out".
Therefore, she highlighted, "as long as irregularities are confirmed, detected either by investigating complaints or by scheduled inspection actions, the necessary sanctioning measures will continue to be applied", she assured.
The solemn opening ceremony of the 2023/2024 academic year took place at the Academy of Social Sciences and Technologies, in Luanda, and was presided over by the Vice-President, Esperança da Costa.
Classes in the higher education subsystem in Angola start next Monday, October 2, in the 18 provinces.
