Mozambique: Questions raised over proposed new Criminal Offences Investigation Branch
Photo: Célia Sitoe / Civilinfo
The classrooms in Chalaua administrative post, Moma district, northern Mozambique, are empty because the children there prefer gold mining to studying, Civilimo, an information agency for Mozambican NGOs, writes today.
Civilimo cites Nailocone, where, out of a class of 114 Grade 1 students, only 15 managed to reach Grade 7.
“Driven by the expectation of making seemingly easy money, dozens of children in Chalaua are leaving school to hunt for gold and other precious stones,” the Civilimo story reads.
When questioned about the high school dropout rates children cite poverty as the cause.
“Since the opening of the artisanal mine in the area, the statistics have shown a noticeable reduction in the number of students,” says Daniel Joaquim, coordinator of the Zone of Pedagogical Influence (ZIP), in the Mina district of Chalaua.
Civilimo says the children practice artisanal mining in dangerous conditions for just a few milligrams of gold, doing hours of strenuous work in both sun and rain.
Education authorities in Nampula have been urging families to persuade children to continue studying, and some who had dropped out of school for the ‘garimpo’ life have now come back.
Official figures indicate that thousands of Mozambican children work in various sectors, including mining, agriculture, commerce and housework.
Garimpo de ouro retira crianças da Escola em Chalaua #Nampula https://t.co/FnB34cX1mr
— Agência Civilinfo (@civilinfomoz) September 4, 2018
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