Government invests in training of soldiers

Angola, Luanda – The Angolan Government has been investing in building a well equipped, highly trained and skilled Armed Forces to undertake various missions. This was said Tuesday in Luanda by the National defence minister, Cândido Pereira Van-Dúnem. The minister was speaking at the ceremony of celebration of the 4th anniversary of the Higher Technical Military Institute (ISTM) in Luanda. According to Cândido Van-Dúnem, one can not think of growth and development without a special attention to the training of human resources. He added that to this end and in the pursuit of strategic vision of future, trainees from various parts of the country, regardless of their social background, are training at the institute, with the purpose of becoming citizens potentially useful to FAA and the motherland. The minister on the occasion appealed to trainees to permanently observe the values of citizenship, discipline and strictness in their work, as they are essential factors in the forging of the personality of any citizen, particularly the defence personnel. The ceremony was witnessed by the minister of Higher Education and Science and Technology, Maria Cândida Teixeira, the chief of Staff of the Angola Armed Forces (FAA), gen. Geraldo Sachipengo Nunda, and other high ranking officers from the three branches of FAA and defence attaches accredited to Angola. ISTM is a military institution of higher education, dedicated to the study, teaching, scientific research and technology. Founded on 15 May in 2008, ISTM runs higher education training programmes for military staff of Angola and African Portuguese Speaking Countries (PALOP) in various specialties like engineering, computer sciences and others. There are currently 800 students training at the institute. 34 foreign cadet students from Mozambique, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau and Sao Tome and Principe are attending various courses at ISTM.