Maputo 2 Feb (AIM) – Seven teachers, in Vilankulo district, in the southern Mozambican Province of Inhambane, claim that they are being transferred arbitrarily from their workplaces allegedly for political reasons.
These teachers, according to a report in the independent daily “O País”, have been transferred to different schools in the district with no reason given. They are questioning the legality of the measure and the motivation behind their transfers.
The teachers’ complaint is backed by Mozambique’s main opposition party, Renamo, which called reporters on Friday to denounce “discrimination against employees” in the public administration because of their party preferences.
According to the Renamo spokesperson, José Manteigas, “the decision by the District Education Services in Vilankulo represents an attitude of political intolerance and goes against the spirit of inclusion, citizenship and political participation that we all desire.”
Manteigas also believes that these transfers have no legal basis, because they are signed by an official from the District Services Secretariat without consulting those affected (the teachers).
However, the education authorities in that province say that the teachers were transferred because the sector is short of teachers in some primary schools.
The district director of education in Vilankulo denies that the transfers were motivated by political reasons, arguing that the sector had planned to hire 115 new teachers for the 2024 school year, but, for financial reasons, it will only be able to hire 15.
The education manager explained that all the transferred teachers will reinforce schools that used to be at primary level, but which now also teach secondary classes.
(AIM)
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