Overview of the General Education System

Mozambique’s education system has undergone significant evolution since its independence, as it has strived to achieve universal access and enhance quality. Under Portuguese rule, the education system was characterized by a dual-track approach. The colonial system provided basic education primarily to the African majority, while offering more advanced liberal or technical education to settlers and a limited number of Africans. The situation disadvantaged Africans during their clamor for independence due to the very low literacy rates among the population. In addition, education was provided solely in Portuguese, which further limited access and understanding for many.

The National System of Education, introduced in the early 1980s, aimed to create a cohesive framework for education while expanding access to learning opportunities. The government offers full-time and part-time opportunities while nationalizing private and religious schools to create equitable access. These key initiatives have aimed at addressing historical disparities and promoting inclusive education, which focuses on infrastructure development and teacher training. In fact, in 2018, the government made a major reform, making schooling free up to Grade 9 and officially recognizing pre-primary education. This move highlights a national commitment to improving educational inclusivity.

Mozambique currently follows a 6-6-4 structure, encompassing six years of primary education, six years of secondary education, and four or more years of higher education. However, challenges persist. Student performance remains low, as the mean student assessment scores in Portuguese and math were only 31.3 and 31.4 out of 100, respectively. Unfortunately, only 5% of students could read and understand a simple text by third grade. According to the data from World Bank and UNESCO in 2020, the primary school completion rate was 61% for boys and 55% for girls; for lower secondary, 33% for boys and 31% for girls.The Ministry of Education (Ministério da Educação e Desenvolvimento Humano - MINEDH) leads the national education policy, planning, and implementation, whereas the Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education and Technical-Professional Training (MCTESTP) oversees the post-secondary education. The education arena is comprised of public, private, religious, and international schools. Although public education is more common, many emigrants and more affluent families prefer international schools due to ongoing issues in public schools, particularly in quality and infrastructure.

The official language of instruction is Portuguese, with increasing focus on expanding special education and vocational training. Structural reform efforts continue, but regional disparities and resource limitations hinder even progress.

In Mozambique, education is compulsory for the first seven years. This covers the entirety of primary school. Children generally begin school at age six. The typical structure begins with two years of pre-primary or “jardin infantil” education. Pre-primary education, while now officially included in the education framework, is not mandatory. This is followed by mandatory five years of primary school, which completes the compulsory education phase.

Lower secondary education beginning at age 14 and lasting three years. Upper secondary education covers an additional two years. However, this level is accessed by less than 7% of eligible youth due to limited schools since only 82 upper secondary schools exist across the country.

Mozambique’s higher education sector remains small, urban-centered, and male-dominated. The higher education system is overseen by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Higher Education and Technical-Professional Training (MCTESTP) and comprises 53 institutions. Among these are the 19 universities, 27 institutes, four schools, and three academies.

Degree types include Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate programs, as well as technical and professional diplomas. Entry into higher education generally requires completing upper secondary education and passing entrance examinations.

The leading institution is Eduardo Mondlane University, established in 1962 and located in Maputo. It offers various programs across faculties such as Agronomy, Architecture, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, and Veterinary Science. Other institutions include the Catholic University of Mozambique (1995) and the Higher Polytechnic and University Institute (1994). Nevertheless, systemic challenges remain. The primary reasons are regional inequality, limited public funding, and underqualified faculty, which contribute to high dropout rates and low graduation rates. As a matter of fact, the enrollment ratio in tertiary education was only 7.3% in 2018, which is less than both the sub-Saharan African average of 9.4% and the global average of 38.8%.