Education & Schools

Luanda’s education landscape offers two broad paths: public schools with more limited resources, and private/international schools that many expatriate families choose.

• Curricula: British, American and IB programmes are available. English is common, with Portuguese also widely used. Examples include Luanda International School, Portuguese School of Luanda and Lycée Français de Luanda.
• Tuition fees: Annual fees can be high (often tens of thousands of USD). Many expat contracts include an education allowance—discuss with your employer before relocating.
• Admissions & waitlists: Apply early; places fill quickly. Typical requirements include interviews, previous school reports and vaccination records.
• Facilities & activities: Modern facilities, smaller classes and a wide range of extracurriculars (sports, music, languages, community service).

• Infrastructure: Public schools may face underfunding and overcrowding; textbooks and resources can be limited, and quality varies.
• Language: Portuguese is the primary language of instruction—non-Portuguese speakers may find integration challenging.
• Local private options: Many Portuguese-medium private schools (often Catholic/community-run) have lower fees than international schools but curricula may not align with your home country.

• Public & private: Agostinho Neto University (public) and Catholic University of Angola (private) are key institutions. Teaching is primarily in Portuguese.
• For expats: Higher education is rarely the reason families relocate; many send children to universities abroad. Adults may consider Portuguese courses or exchange programmes for immersion.

• Plan ahead: Contact schools early to confirm entry requirements, fees, calendars and transport.
• Language support: If your child doesn’t speak Portuguese, look for bilingual programmes or dedicated language support.
• Health & safety: Ask about campus security, medical procedures, vaccination requirements and emergency contacts.