Hundreds of teachers in Inhambane not paid since September – Mozambique

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Hundreds of teachers in Inhambane not paid since September – Mozambique

6:03 CAT | 11 Nov 2016

At least a hundred primary and secondary school teachers have not received their monthly salaries in Inhambane province for two months. “Our last salary was received on September 13,” some teachers say. The Ministry of Education and Human Development did not respond to A Verdade’s requests for clarification on the reasons for this delay.

“We ask for your help. In Inhambane, we haven’t received our salary for two months,” a teacher with more than six years experience in a school in the administrative post of Mapinhane, Vilanculo district, told A Verdade, asking not to be identified for fear of reprisals.

According to the same teacher, his colleagues in schools in the districts of Massinga, Inharrine, Zavala and Vilanculo, are facing the same situation.

“In the Mapinhane elementary school, there are more than 20 teachers (with salaries in arrears), in the 25 de Setembro secondary school, more than 30, in Padre Gerardo Gumiero school in Mapinhane, more than 20 and in Mujavangue primary, more than 10 teachers, among others,” the professor said, adding that he was desperate and owed money in the shops where he buys food for himself and his family.

Another teacher, appointed three years ago and who regularly received by bank transfer through the State Financial Administration System (SISTAFE), corroborated the story.

“Yesterday, the 7th of the current month (November), the district director wandered around the schools trying to find out who was spreading the rumour about salaries not being paid, and asking if teachers were working or on strike. In my school, no-one is going into the classroom except to give the final tests,” said our source, who also asked not to be identified.

A Verdade telephoned an adviser to the Minister of Education and Human Development who explained that, it being a provincial matter any clarification would be obtained from the respective provincial administration.

However, we were unable to obtain clarification from the Inhambane provincial director of education who, according to her secretary, contacted by telephone by A Verdade, was working out of office on Tuesday (November 8).

The head of the Administration and Finance department at the provincial education directorate in Inhambane declined to answer A Verdade’s questions, allegedly for the lack of authorisation to do so.

A Verdade did establish that all the teachers affected by the wage arrears in Inhambane have had their situation regularised with the state, meaning they are not new hires and that there is, therefore, a budgetary allocation for their remuneration.

It was not possible to ascertain how many students in Inhambane are not presently receiving an education because of this situation. However, it is known that the 2nd and 5th class exams, as well as those for literacy and adult education, will begin on 14 November and the 7th, 10th and 12th class exams on 28 November.

Source: A Verdade