Celebrating Our Recognition as a Top 10 Finalist for the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development
Luanda, Angola – October 4, 2024 – Today, ADPP Angola had the privilege of participating in the award ceremony for the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development in Paris, where we were honoured as a top 10 finalist. This recognition not only celebrates our achievements but also acknowledges the Ministry of Education and our partners who have supported us in our mission to train teachers across the country.
During the ceremony, Rikke Viholm, Chairperson of ADPP’s Board of Directors, highlighted the unique aspects of our approach to teacher training:
“Our program stands out because it combines academic learning and hands-on experience with leadership development, community engagement, and teamwork. Over four years, future teachers don’t just learn teaching skills—they travel, learn, and grow as leaders. They explore how things are, debate how they can be better, and practice driving change, building solidarity with the rural communities that need great teachers.
Each year, approximately 50,000 children benefit from the quality education provided by our students during their teaching practice. In addition to their classroom responsibilities, our students also lead community development projects, further enriching their training experience.
By focusing on student-led learning and real-world application, our teacher training program produces creative teachers who can make sure all children learn to read, who can conduct practical STEM lessons with locally available resources, and who work to make sure all children get to school. The program empowers teachers to raise their voices on broader issues like gender equality, nutrition, and sustainable development.
The program not only improves the quality of education the coming teachers will provide, but also gives them a stronger voice and strengthens their role as changemakers in their schools and communities”.
Congratulations to the three laureates and all the finalists—every effort to improve teacher training strengthens education worldwide and empowers teachers' voices.
We are committed to continuing our mission to train capable, passionate, and determined teachers, who strive to ensure no child is left behind; teachers who make a difference in the classroom and in the community as a whole.
In turn, on this #WorldTeachersDay, we call on all stakeholders to:
- Invest in teachers
- Involve teachers
- Trust teachers
- Respect teachers
#WorldTeachersDay2024 #ValuingTeachersVoices
On this World Teachers' Day, celebrated on 5 October 2024 under the theme "Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a new social contract for education," Humana People to People has published an article outlining the critical role teachers play in transforming education systems, the need for increased investment in teacher training, and the importance of supporting teachers to address global shortages, particularly in rural and underserved communities.
As founding members of the Humana People to People Federation, we echo the importance of valuing teachers as key agents in transforming education, especially in rural communities: "Teachers must be valued, as they are key agents of transformation in education – and education systems need to transform to support them. Bringing qualified, supported and motivated teachers into classrooms is the single most important thing to support the learning and well-being of communities."
At ADPP Angola, we are proud to contribute to this effort through our 15 Teacher Training Schools, which prepare primary school teachers to work in Angola’s rural areas, where they are needed the most. These teachers are prepared not just to deliver knowledge, but to help students actively participate in their education, nurturing future generations who will build and sustain strong communities.
We invite you to read the full article and learn more about the collective efforts of members of Humana People to People in transforming education.
We particularly enjoyed the newly produced film by our sister organisation ADPP Mozambique, which captures the journey of a teacher during and after her training and the teaching methods she uses in teaching in a rural primary school. Click here to watch it.
Let us continue to invest in teachers—because transforming education starts with them.
Luanda, Angola – 03 October, 2024 – ADPP Angola has been named a top 10 finalist for the UNESCO-Hamdan Prize for Teacher Development. This prestigious recognition highlights our 15 Teacher Training Schools, which operate in partnership with the Ministry of Education to train primary school teachers across 14 provinces.
Since 1995, we have graduated 15,825 teachers, with a focus on rural areas. Our 4-year boarding school program prepares teachers through academic study, practical work, and community engagement, with an emphasis on gender equality.
Our 4-year pre-service boarding school program is designed to produce capable, passionate, and determined teachers who provide transformative education. The program integrates academic subjects with practical work, study trips, community engagement, leadership training, and a strong focus on teamwork. Over the course of four years, students not only develop pedagogical skills but also prepare to function as community leaders on issues like gender, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, water and sanitation, and malaria prevention. Well trained teachers become progressive voices in rural areas, supporting conflict resolution and social inclusion. We are especially proud of our commitment to gender equality, with 40% of the latest intake across all schools being female. This is the result of 15 years of determined effort to increase the number of female students and graduates. Alongside this, we actively challenge gender norms within our schools, ensuring equal opportunities and responsibilities for everyone.
With consistent support from the Ministry of Education and external partners, we have expanded our efforts beyond the pre-service training. We have mobilized funds to implement STEM programs in rural schools, reaching hundreds of primary school students. We’ve also launched projects on sexual and reproductive health, water and sanitation, road safety, and more, all designed to improve education and well-being in Angola.
In addition to the Ministry of Education and provincial governments, current partners include the Government of Korea / KOICA, USAID, Azule Energy, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Angola, Esso Block 15, and members of the Federation Humana People to People.
"This nomination is a great honour and validates the work we do with the Ministry of Education,” said Rikke Viholm, Chairperson of the Board of Directors. "It’s a chance to share Angola’s experience in teacher development with the world and highlights our role in the global effort to improve education for all."
The 2024 UNESCO-Hamdan Prize will be awarded on World Teachers’ Day, October 4, 2024, at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The award was created in 2008 to support the improvement of the quality of teaching and learning as a result of Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education, one of UNESCO's priorities. This year’s theme, "Valuing Teacher Voices: Towards a New Social Contract for Education," reflects the mission to support teachers in shaping the future of education. Read more here and follow the award event here
Read more about the teacher training schools here.
As part of the "Strengthening Municipal Education Systems" (SMS) project, financed by USAID, increasing community involvement in education is in focus. During the school break in July and August, project staff conducted door-to-door visits throughout the target municipalities- Baía Farta (Benguela), Londuimbali (Huambo), Cacuso (Malanje), and Catabola (Bié)- to ensure all children are enrolled and ready to attend school from the start of the school year in September. The campaign extended to local markets and community spaces, reinforcing the project’s commitment to reach every corner of these communities.
A significant aspect of the SMS project is its focus on teacher training. In Londuimbali alone, 570 primary school teachers completed refresher courses as part of the "40 Pedagogical Sessions" program, designed to prepare them for the new school year. Similar trainings took place across other municipalities, equipping teachers with the tools to deliver high-quality education.
The project captures the core mission of the Angolan government’s decentralization efforts: ensuring that municipalities take responsibility for education quality. This includes ensuring that children are enrolled, teachers are properly qualified, school leadership is strong, and community members, including parents, are engaged. The goal is to see all children in school, more students completing primary education, lower dropout rates, and fewer children repeating grades.
ADPP’s Teacher Training Schools in Malanje, Bié, Londuimbali, and Benguela are playing a central role in the project. They are collaborating with local education authorities, primary school directors, teachers, and community members to improve education quality in 126 rural and peri-urban schools across the municipalities involved.
“Pause and reflect sessions” with project stakeholders and a “Most Significant Change” evaluation, both planned for September, will provide a wealth of feedback on the project’s impact and its next steps. It is already noticeable the number of other municipalities requesting to be involved in the project!
From September 16th to November 10th, 799 second year students and 71 teachers from the 15 ADPP Teaching Schools are undertaking the “Learn to Travel, Travel to Learn” period of their teacher training program.
For eight weeks, participants will travel by bus through 14 of the country's 18 provinces, namely, Bengo, Benguela, Bié, Cuanza Sul, Cabinda, Cuando Cubango, Cuanza Norte, Cunene, Huambo, Lunda Sul, Luanda, Malange, Uíge and Zaire.
This is a transformative initiative that positively impacts young students. By promoting education, cultural exchange and personal development, the program not only enriches the lives of participants, but also strengthens communities, contributing to cohesion and sustainability.
Activities will be carried out such as visits to primary schools, museums, historical monuments, the business sector, local and traditional authorities, among others, where they will learn about geography, biology, geology, sociology, communication, etc.
The concept “Learn to Travel, Travel to Learn” takes on a new dimension with the use of e-books during the travel. These contain educational materials that allow students to continue their theoretical studies as they learn in practice.
ADPP – Angola has been implementing the study travel period for over 10 years. Between 2013 and 2014, for 16 weeks, more than a thousand students travelled to seven countries in Southern Africa, including Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. From 2015, the travel has taken place domestically in Angola.
ADPP Teacher Training Schools offer a four-year pre-service program, preparing young people to become primary school teachers, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Education.
For over 25 years, the 15 ADPP Teacher Training Schools, located across 14 provinces, have been shaping "Teachers of the Future." 15,825 teachers have graduated to date, including 5,318 women, representing 34% of the total.
