Fifty years after independence, education remains a decisive challenge

Mozambique faces ongoing difficulties in its education system despite expanding school networks into rural and peri-urban areas fifty years after independence, according to a recent publication shared with Agenzia Fides.

The report identifies inadequate infrastructure, a lack of teaching materials, and overcrowded classrooms as primary obstacles to learning. In certain regions, students attend lessons in makeshift facilities or under trees, while insufficient libraries and resources contribute to low achievement in reading and writing. Large class sizes prevent teachers from providing individual attention to vulnerable students.

The publication also notes social and systemic issues affecting schools, including corruption, favoritism, and sexual harassment related to examinations. Additionally, the presence of drugs and alcohol among youth, including the use of maakha in Nampula, has been linked to violence and assault on school premises.