Angolan students in Portugal say "no" to return

The Angola Students Association in Portugal is concerned that many young Angolans undergoing training in this European country are not interested in returning to their country of origin. In an interview with Novo Jornal, the president of the association, Sivi Pedro, refers that the alleged reasons are insecurity, "unattractive" salaries or the lack of job opportunities, defending that "it is important for the Government to take measures to oblige them to return, as many have a commitment with the State that pays the respective scholarships".

Sivi Pedro denounced that many of the students who do not want to return to the country are scholarship holders included in the agreement between Portugal and Angola, considering that the Government has almost no control over these scholarship holders, which is why many end up staying in the countries where they are sent to study.

The student considers that, in addition to the importance of passing on the message about the need to return, the Angolan Government should create policies for the integration of these students who leave abroad. Sivi Pedro refers that since 2010, the association she directs has run the "Regresso Seguro" project, in partnership with several Portuguese companies operating in Angola, so far allowing more than 3,000 students to return with work contracts. An initiative interrupted in the last three years due to the pandemic, but which should be resumed next year, according to the associative leader.

"We had very good results with this project, although there are always students who, despite these opportunities, do not want to return, sometimes claiming that the salary is not attractive or other reasons", he says.

In Portugal, 4,690 Angolans are currently studying, according to data from the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Technology and Innovation cited by the president of the Association of Angolan Students, who believes there are more, and some are not registered or have dual nationality. Sivi Pedro considers that the support received is little, due to the lack of a specific policy by the Angolan Government.

"I am not just talking about financial support. As I have said, Angola does not have agreements with Portugal in terms of higher education that allow the reduction of tuition fees and other costs that university students have. The support we have received is very limited, and, for those who are not scholarship holders, student life becomes hell. Many times the student has to stop studying to work and only then pays for college".

Telecommunications and IT engineering student, Sivi Pedro recognizes, however, the efforts of the Embassy and Consulate of Angola, and also mentions that the association has been coordinating ideas with these two institutions so that there is more support for Angolan students with higher difficulties.

"We have young Angolan students, some of whom have already finished their training, who are entrepreneurs here in Portugal. Some have companies, others work within the scope of corporate entrepreneurship within some organisations", said Sivi Pedro, citing, as an example, the companies BBMA Consultoria Lda., Relíquias de Angola and ABC Digital.