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afrol News, 17 March - The Cape Verdean Prime Minister, José Maria Neves, finds the situation of the country's schools to be "grave". He has announced that he wishes to invest in this key development sector. Prime Minister Neves has already visited various primary and high schools on the island of Santiago, where the capital Praia is located, according to the Portuguese International Radio (RDP). Following his newly introduced programme of contact with the Cape Verdean youth, the Prime Minister discussed the state of the educational sector with the students he came across. He presented them with the ample government programme to improve the educational sector. His conclusion was harsh; the schools were in a "grave" condition. Neves found it was necessary to widen the government's educational efforts in investing in the country's youth. First, he held, it was necessary to sensitise the entire population on the importance of the sector. The education sector is a case much at heart of the Prime Minister, also leader of the moderate left wing party PAICV. Neves has urged for an ample increase in the country's scholar spending, defending it as the best investment in the country's future. Armed with new arguments from his talks with Cape Verdean student, Neves is now to give orders to the Ministry of Education to enhance its efforts. The first announced step has been to set up plans for the establishment of a second State University as part of the government programme to support the youth, Neves, said. With an adult literary rate of 71 percent and a school attendance rate of 77 percent (1999 figures), Cape Verde is at a fairly good position in an African context. To reach the government's goal of becoming an emerging economy nation, the rates however are less impressing.
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