ABSTRACT
In the midst of crisis, Angolans have also excelled in cultural expression, ranging from having the best basketball team in Africa to having produced a number of excellent novelists and poets. This chapter discusses the various means Angolans have developed to cope with the crisis. The general description of the socioeconomic conditions in Angola has covered up important regional differences. The chapter highlights some of these differences, with reference to some of the few studies that have been carried out. Primary education is divided into three levels, with the compulsory first level lasting four years and the second and third levels each lasting two additional years. In addition to the attention given to primary-school education, preschool education has officially been emphasized, the argument being that the majority of children come from a socioeconomic background that inhibits effective learning. Health services were to be free of charge and accessible to everyone, with principal attention being given to primary health care.
