ERGUES – Education and the Reform of Educational Governance in São Tomé and Príncipe

In view of the major development challenges facing São Tomé and Príncipe, only quality, inclusive and equitable education can be seen as a structuring axis for intervention in the Development Cooperation sector.

This project is being implemented in close partnership with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sciences (MECC) of São Tomé and Príncipe and the University of São Tomé and Príncipe (USTP). The project operates along four lines of intervention, which aim to meet the government’s objectives: dual-certificate technical and vocational education; digital teaching materials for primary and secondary education; teacher training and research in education; and strengthening the institutional capacity of the MEEC.

The intervention is mainly funded by Portuguese Cooperation , through Camões, I.P. and co-financed by the partners involved in its implementation – Associação Marquês de Valle Flôr (AMVF) – the organisation coordinating the action – Universidade de Aveiro(UA), Universidade de Évora (UÉ), Instituto Politécnico de Santarém (IPSantarém) and Universidade Católica Portuguesa (UCP). These Portuguese institutions will contribute the expertise of their human resources and their in-depth knowledge of the context of the action, the result of various cooperation projects with São Tomé and Príncipe in their portfolios.

The action aims to continue and reinforce the use of a methodology already implemented in the Integrated Support Programme for the Education Sector in São Tomé and Príncipe (PAISE-STP), with the active participation of all those involved and, in particular, the beneficiary-partners, in the activities that will be developed, so that they are effectively co-builders of the results to be produced/achieved.

OBJECTIVES

General: to contribute to improving quality, equity and inclusion in São Tomé and Príncipe’s education system.

Specific:

• To consolidate dual-certificate technical-vocational education by regulating and diversifying training offers relevant to youth employability;
• Contribute to improving teaching-learning processes and inclusion in primary and secondary education through digital teaching materials;
• Promote the development of the pedagogical, didactic and digital skills of primary and secondary school teachers by strengthening USTP’s institutional and research capacity;
• Strengthen the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education by training staff in planning, monitoring, evaluation and the production of education statistics.

TARGET GROUPS:

• MECC managers and technical staff (General Directorates, particularly in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe, and the Special Education Office);
• Teachers of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cycles of Primary and Secondary Education (Portuguese Language, Maths, Natural Sciences/Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Visual and Technological Education and Visual Arts);
• Special education teachers and students;
• USTP teachers/researchers.

Final beneficiaries:

• Primary and secondary school students (general route and technical-vocational route);
• Students with specific educational needs;
• Students on USTP teacher training courses;
• The educational community in general.

TARGET GROUPS:

• MECC managers and technical staff (General Directorates, particularly in the Autonomous Region of Príncipe, and the Special Education Office);
• Teachers of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cycles of Primary and Secondary Education (Portuguese Language, Maths, Natural Sciences/Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Geography, History, Visual and Technological Education and Visual Arts);
• Special education teachers and students;
• USTP teachers/researchers.

Final beneficiaries:

• Primary and secondary school students (general route and technical-vocational route);
• Students with specific educational needs;
• Students on USTP teacher training courses;
• The educational community in general.

AXES OF INTERVENTION:

Axis 1 – Dual-certification technical-vocational education

• Creation of dual certification technical-vocational courses for Caué, Lembá and the Autonomous Region of Príncipe.

Axis 2 – Digital teaching materials for primary and secondary education

• Updating teaching materials for primary and secondary education, complemented with digital tools;
• Creation of digital teaching materials for Special Education in the 1st and 2nd Cycles of Basic Education.

Axis 3 – Teacher training and research in education

• Improving initial and ongoing teacher training by strengthening the institutional capacity of the USTP;
• Improving the pedagogical-didactic and digital skills of primary and secondary school teachers.

Axis 4 – Strengthening the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education

• Improving the institutional capacity of the Ministry of Education in terms of planning, statistics, monitoring and evaluation of education.

NEWS ARTICLES

13.02.2024 Tripartite Cooperation Agreement Signed for New Education Project in São Tomé and Príncipe