Cape Verde has teamed up with Portugal to align its education system with international standards, signing a technical assistance agreement to prepare for global student assessments and strengthen education policy.
On March 16, officials from Cape Verde’s Ministry of Education and the Institute for Quality and Evaluation of Education (EduQA, I.P.) formalized the partnership with Portugal’s EduQA and the Institute for Educational Evaluation (IAVE). The deal focuses on external evaluation of student learning, including Cape Verde’s upcoming participation in the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), a globally recognised benchmark for education systems.
The signing ceremony, led by Education Minister Amadeu Cruz, included Nuno Gomes, coordinator of Cape Verde’s Special Projects Management Unit (UGPE), and Luís Santos, president of Portugal’s EduQA. Minister Cruz described PISA as “a mirror of the state of teaching and learning,” offering insights to guide strategic decision-making and policy reforms.
Under the agreement, Portuguese experts will work alongside Cape Verdean authorities to transfer technical expertise, introduce assessment methods aligned with international standards, and adapt them to local conditions. Evaluations will cover language, mathematics, science, and digital skills, providing a global comparative framework for students while supporting a national education barometer to track performance and strengthen governance.
The initiative also aims to tackle equity challenges within Cape Verde’s archipelagic education system, where regional disparities affect access and learning outcomes. By leveraging data from assessments, policymakers hope to better target interventions and reduce gaps across the islands.
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Education indicators highlight both progress and persistent challenges. Primary school completion rates hover around 65–67 percent, according to UNESCO, while transitions to secondary education remain fragile. Higher education access is limited, with fewer than 10% of adults attaining tertiary qualifications.
Public investment in education is substantial, accounting for roughly 14.7 percent of government spending in 2023, according to Macrotrends. Yet enrollment gains have not always translated into improvements in basic skills, particularly in reading and mathematics, underscoring the need for evidence-based reforms.
By partnering with Portugal, Cape Verde seeks to accelerate structural improvements in its education system. The collaboration combines technical support, knowledge transfer, and alignment with international benchmarks to enhance both performance and equity. Authorities expect the initiative to provide actionable insights for policymakers, strengthen governance, and better prepare students for regional and global competitiveness.
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As Cape Verde embarks on this process, the emphasis will be on establishing reliable metrics, closing learning gaps, and creating a foundation for sustainable education reform across the archipelago. The partnership reflects a broader strategy to ensure that investment in education translates into meaningful learning outcomes and long-term human capital development.
