Cape Verde Acts to Stop LGBTQ+ Bullying in Schools
An international initiative led by Altihay Fuerteventura, a Canary Islands-based LGTBI+ collective, is launching its second phase to train Cape Verdean educators in identifying and dismantling prejudice within the archipelago’s classrooms.
Confronting Classroom Harassment
The project focuses on equipping primary and secondary teachers with the tools to handle discrimination related to sexual orientation and gender identity. Desiree Chacón Ríos, a representative for Altihay Fuerteventura, highlighted the urgency of the issue during an inclusive cooperation meeting in the capital city of Praia.
“Every teacher knows a more effeminate boy whom everyone laughs at. In Cape Verde, all teachers are aware of this reality,” Chacón Ríos said. “We are here to provide help to all teachers so they can address this. We have the right to have happy, free children, and for that, we must work through education.”
Expanding the Scope of Inclusion
The initiative, developed in partnership with the Cape Verdean Ministry of Education, began in November 2025 and has already reached educators on the islands of Santo Antão, Sal, São Vicente, Santiago, and Maio. The second phase aims to cover the remaining islands in the archipelago while encouraging previously trained staff to lead ongoing awareness activities.
The curriculum, which includes preschool educators, is specifically tailored to different age groups to ensure that respect, tolerance, and empathy are instilled from the earliest stages of development.
Ministry of Education Maintains Vigilance
Despite the training efforts, the Ministry of Education remains cautious about labeling the extent of the problem. Maria Andrade, Director of Pedagogical Management and Educational Inclusion, admitted there are “some cases” of discrimination but noted a lack of formal data.
“We do not work with guesswork. We have no study that proves [the prevalence of prejudice],” Andrade stated, though she emphasized that schools remain vigilant through guidance offices and dedicated inclusion spaces intended to monitor conflict and bullying.
However, the drive for reform is supported by a January 2025 study from the Cape Verdean Institute for Gender Equality and Equity (ICIEG). That report recommended strengthening inclusive education and introducing formal content on sexual and gender diversity into national curricula at both the school and university levels to ensure equal rights for all students.
Image: Pexels – Luis Morales Torres
