A total of 44 tenth-grade students at the Cuanza-Norte Agricultural Technical Institute have begun receiving scholarships valued at 30,000 kwanzas per month, disbursed quarterly, under the Agricultural and Rural Training Support Project (PAFAR).
The initiative was formally launched on Wednesday, June 25, during a ceremony presided over by Angola’s Minister of Education, Luísa Grilo.
The programme aims to encourage school retention among girls in rural areas and support their academic advancement, particularly in the agricultural sciences.
PAFAR is financed by the European Union through the French Development Agency, in close partnership with the Angolan government. It is designed to strengthen the capacity of students attending agricultural technical institutes across the country.
Speaking at the event, Cuanza-Norte Governor João Diogo Gaspar described the scholarship initiative as an investment not only in the future of young women but also in the broader development of a modern and sustainable agricultural sector.
“It also represents a concrete step towards ensuring that young women in rural areas can dream of a technical career and actively contribute to the development of modern and sustainable agriculture in our country,” he stated.
Minister Grilo emphasized the importance of promoting equal access to education, especially for girls, and urged recipients to use the financial support wisely.
“This is about more than money.
It’s about giving our girls the tools to pursue meaningful careers and become agents of change in their communities,” she said.
The beneficiary students expressed their deep appreciation, calling the scholarship a vital support for continuing their studies.
Several senior government officials attended the launch, along with European Union Ambassador to Angola Rosário Bento Pais and French Ambassador Sophie Aubert, highlighting the international backing behind Angola’s rural education reform efforts.
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