9,000 primary school children transferred out of Sabe, in Zambezia, Mozambique

Login

Register

http://www.clubofmozambique.com/

9,000 primary school children transferred out of Sabe, in Zambezia, Mozambique

3:12 CAT | 11 Apr 2016

More than 9,000 primary school pupils in Sabe locality in the central Mozambican province of Zambezia, are being transferred to other areas regarded as safe, reports Friday’s issue of the Maputo daily “Noticias”.

Sabe is one of the areas in the central provinces where the presence of gunmen of the rebel movement Renamo has forced the closure of schools. Sabe is in Morrumbala district where Renamo boasted last year that it was setting up a new military base which it called a “general staff headquarters”.

The director of the Morrumbala district education services, Alberto Faria told reporters that a campaign is under way to persuade pupils and their parents that the children should continue their education in safer areas.

Faria said that Renamo’s military activities had made it impossible to open the 2016 school year in Sabe. The immediate solution was to enroll Sabe pupils in schools in the district capital, Morrumbala town. Some pupils have moved further afield, and have enrolled in schools in the neighbouring district of Mopeia.

In 2015, the military tensions made it impossible to hold the end of year exams for 2nd, 5th and 7th grades in Sabe.

The situation has also made it impossible for 170 teachers stationed in Sabe schools to work. They and their families have moved to Morrumbala town, or into neighbouring districts.

A survey undertaken by the Education Ministry has shown that Renamo attacks have forced the closure of 97 schools, affecting 38,000 pupils in Zambezia, Sofala, Tete and Manica provinces.

Speaking in the Zambezia provincial capital, Quelimane, the provincial governor, Abdul Razak, warned that the military tensions are damaging the economy of the province, with business people finding that the Renamo attacks are preventing them from supplying markets with foodstuffs. “Noticias” reports that the prices of basic foods have shot up by fifty per cent.

Razak urged Renamo leader Afonso Dhlakama to accept the invitation issued by President Filipe Nyusi for a face to face meeting to discuss ways of achieving a lasting peace.

Source: AIM