You will find below a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Cape Verde with fee information. It includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools and you will find the right school to prepare for International Baccalaureate, and other diploma in Cape Verde. Some schools will follow the French education system.
Cape Verde Education
Primary school education in Cape Verde is mandatory between the ages of 6 and 14 years (free for children ages 6 to 12). Portuguese is the majority language and language of instruction. However, many students and teachers speak Cape Verdean Creole at home and have a poor command of Portuguese.
International Schools
Most international families (multinational corporation executives, children of diplomats, NGO staff) in Cape Verde choose to send their children to the international school, or abroad. There may be some local population, but the schools are geared for an international student body. Schools usually follow a curriculum model from the US, UK, France, Canada or Australia/New Zealand. International schools provide similar standards of schooling around the globe, providing for an easy transition between schools whether they are in France or Vietnam. Schools often provide internationally accepted accreditation such as the international baccalaureate.
Admission and enrollment procedures vary from school to school. Space is often limited and preference may be given to students based on nationality. Tuition tends to be expensive based on local standards, but offers high standards of learning, boast smaller class sizes, first-rate facilities, and extracurricular. Boarding facilities are available at some schools, but most only provide day classes.
Accreditation
The CoIS (Council of International Schools) is a non-profit association of international schools and post-secondary institutions which provides educational accreditation, teacher and leadership recruitment services, links to higher education, governance assistance and help with founding new schools.
Praia
French school
L'école internationale les Alizés
Address: C.P. 395
Praia, Cape Verde
Tel: (238) 61.43.69
e-mail: ecolelesalizes@cvtelcom.cv
Tuition Rates: Inquire at school
This French International School was started by parents wishing to enroll their children in a French educational system. It has been approved by the French Ministry of Education through the Agency for French Teaching Abroad (EFMA). It is the only international school in the country. The school provides direct instruction in the primary grades with secondary education provided and approved by the CNED (National Centre for Distance Learning). Courses are taught in French, with heavy use of Portuguese and English in the school curriculum in kindergarten (Portuguese from the Nursery, English from CE1/7 years old).