Mozambican authorities hired 8,419 literacy teachers in the first three months of the year out of the nearly 11,000 they aim to hire in 2024, according to a government report that Lusa had access to this Thursday.
According to the executive document of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, from January to March, with the help of these literacy teachers, it was possible to “support 210,475 literacy students” across the country, corresponding to achieving 77.6% of the 2024 target.
The majority of literacy teachers were mobilized in the provinces of Nampula (2,817), Zambezia (1,727), Cabo Delgado (939) and Tete (802).
In the first three months of 2024, which corresponds to the start of the school year in Mozambique, 1,982 primary school teachers were hired, “benefitting 130,000 students,” and 629 secondary school teachers, bringing the number of students to 34,595.
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi admitted in 2023 that almost 40% of Mozambique’s 30 million people are illiterate, the majority of them women.
“It has been noted that the current illiteracy rate among women is 49.4% and among men 27.2%, we need to think about why this is happening,” said Filipe Nyusi, adding that the country’s global illiteracy rate is 39 %.
The provinces of Niassa, Cabo Delgado and Nampula in the north of the country, and the provinces of Tete and Zambezia in central Mozambique have the highest illiteracy rates, according to Mozambique’s head of state.
Filipe Nyusi also noted that the problem affects 50.8% of the rural population and 18% of the urban population, believing that the governors of the mentioned provinces identify and correct deficiencies in education that contribute to low literacy rates.
The President of Mozambique also expressed concern about delays in completing academic levels, citing statistics that show that the average child takes twice as many years to complete primary education and that the average graduation rate in Mozambique is below 30%.
“These delays in completing levels increase costs for families and communities, as well as worsening student-teacher ratios,” he stressed.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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