Several African countries still lack robust language policies that will ensure the integration and use of national languages in education curricula and in society.

This is due to several reasons, starting from lack of political will to the absence of standardized writing systems and resources in the form of text books and reading materials.

In Angola, however, the government has made a bold move that will have a ripple (positive) effect on the growth of the country’s national languages.

The official language of Angola is Portuguese, spoken by the majority of the population and sometimes the only language spoken by the youth of the country.

The remaining 46 other languages spoken in Angola have for long been left on the sidelines, and hanging by a thread due to their non-existence in education curricula.

Angola seeks to address this gap with the declaration by the country’s Minister of Education in February 2025 that nine languages will be taught as subjects in primary schools from 2026.

The nine languages selected to be included in the country’s education system and which already have standard writing systems, are Kikongo, Kimbundo, Cokwe, Umbundo, Mbunda, Kwanyama, Nhaneca, Fiote and Nganguela.