In Cabo Verde, particularly in the city of Praia, the demand for driving licenses has been on the rise, leading to significant delays in exam scheduling. Many individuals, including young people and returning emigrants, are seeking to obtain licenses, straining the capacity of driving schools. Nádia Florêncio, a candidate, experienced these delays firsthand, waiting for her practical exam to be scheduled.
Nádia's experience is not an isolated case, as driving schools in Praia are struggling to keep up with the demand. The representative of the Commission of Driving Schools in Praia, Mário Cordeiro, notes that the demand for driving licenses has been increasing continuously. With around 80 driving schools in Cabo Verde and 30 active ones in Praia, the pressure on these institutions is mounting.
The surge in demand is largely driven by young people and emigrants returning to the country during holidays. Many seek to obtain a license before leaving Cabo Verde or upon their return. Countries like France, Luxembourg, and Portugal are among the top places where candidates originate from, especially during summer and Christmas.
To address this demand, driving schools have started offering online theoretical classes, allowing emigrants to complete this component in their countries of residence and focus on practical lessons and exams in Cabo Verde. This approach has been adopted by most driving schools in Praia, with 90% of candidates who take online classes successfully completing their licenses.
Despite these efforts, the system faces challenges, particularly during peak periods. The wait time for theoretical exams can reach up to two months during high season. The driving schools attribute these delays to the high demand and technical issues with the exam scheduling platform. Mário Cordeiro acknowledges that the Directorate-General of Road Transport (DGTR) is working to improve the process.
On average, driving schools in Praia register around 1,300 candidates for exams per month. This number does not account for repeated exams or candidates who take both theoretical and practical exams within a short period. The daily average is approximately 43 candidates, with some days seeing as many as 60 candidates.
The shortage of instructors is further exacerbating the problem, as many are leaving for abroad, reducing the number of professionals available to teach. As a result, driving schools are struggling to find available dates for prepared candidates, leading to frustration among those seeking licenses.
Key points
- Driving license demand in Cabo Verde is surging, causing significant delays in exam scheduling.
- The surge in demand is driven by young people and returning emigrants.
- Driving schools are working to address the issue, including offering online theoretical classes.
