The Republic of Cabo Verde (“Cabo Verde”) became the 67th developing country partner of the Global Partnership for Education (“GPE”). Working with GPE partners based in Cabo Verde, the country has articulated its education priorities in a national education sector plan (Plano Estratégico da Educação). The plan spells out the key challenges that the education sector faces, and provides a roadmap for sector-wide reforms for the period 2017 to 2021.
The three strategic pillars of the sector plan are to provide universal access to pre-primary education for all children aged 4 to 5 years, including those with special needs; to better articulate pre-primary education with basic education so that all students receive two years of pre-primary education; and to provide equal access to universal, free education up to Grade 8 through the implementation of social action plans for schools.
Cabo Verde joins GPE upon fulfilling the standard partnership requirements, which include a credible education sector plan endorsed by its development partners, and commitment to the GPE Compact and GPE Charter. Cabo Verde also expressed its commitment to continue increasing national domestic financing for education.
The development of the education sector plan has been supported by the local education group comprising the education ministry, civil society partners and development partners, including Education for All Coalition, the European Union, Luxembourg, Portugal, SINDEP and SIPROFIS (teacher associations), UNICEF, UNESCO, and the World Bank.
Cabo Verde will join GPE’s Africa 2 constituency, one of the six Board of Directors' constituencies held by the developing country partners of GPE.
Cabo Verde has applied for a program implementation grant of US$1.4 million over three years.