Luanda: The minister of Education, Lusa Grilo, announced on Monday that the Project for the Empowerment of Girls and Learning for All (PAT II) plays a crucial role in enhancing quality education, combating school dropouts, and improving school management in Angola.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the minister highlighted that the project primarily aims to humanize interactions among members of the school community. Lusa Grilo made these remarks during the PAT II Project Seminar, an event running until January 17, offering a platform for participants to learn and exchange experiences.
The seminar, Grilo noted, seeks to address deficiencies identified during financial control visits of the PAP II programs and activities, while enhancing the knowledge of technicians to align their actions with financial and accounting management procedures.
The minister explained that the seminar aims to bolster the capacity of financial management teams at various administrative levels and to encourage effective practices adhering to international accountability standards. “These efforts are aimed at ensuring that decentralized funds are used effectively to maximize results for the benefit of communities, especially girls,” she stated.
Irene Cardoso, manager of PAT II, detailed that the World Bank has allocated 250 million for the program, aiding students with a school subsidy, termed as a scholarship, particularly targeting girls in the first cycle, first and second year. “In this case, when girls enroll, they will have the opportunity to receive their monetary value during the school year, and when they finish the ninth grade, they will receive another 35,000 kwanzas each as a bonus. The boys will only receive 35,000 kwanzas,” Cardoso explained.
Cardoso emphasized the collective dedication to efficiently and transparently managing resources to foster inclusive education and empower girls across the nation. She underscored that PAT II is pivotal in advancing equal opportunities, strengthening education, and empowering girls, and that proper use of decentralized funds is vital for maximizing the project’s positive community impact.
The seminar convenes over 80 technicians from across the country, covering topics such as financial issues, gender-based violence, and the code of conduct for project personnel.