Sao Tome and Principe History

The islands of Sao Tome and Principe were uninhabited until the arrival of the Portuguese sometime between 1469 and 1471. From the late 15th century, Portugal began settling convicts on Sao Tome and establishing sugar plantations with the help of enslaved people from the mainland. The island also became important in the transshipment of enslaved people. In the early 1900s, Sao Tome and Principe became the world's largest exporter of cocoa, known as the "Chocolate Islands". Sao Tome and Principe gained independence from Portugal on July 12, 1975.

Sao Tome and Principe Education System

The education system in Sao Tome and Principe was originally based on the Portuguese system. Education is free, but fewer than half of school-age children receive basic education. The academic year runs from September to June. Primary school lasts for 6 years, followed by 3 years of lower secondary and 3 years of upper secondary education. As of 1989, there were 13 preprimary schools, and as of 1997, there were 69 primary schools and 10 secondary schools. Higher education was established in the early 1990s. More information can be found on the Ministry of Education and Higher Education (MEES) website.