Maputo, 11 Feb (AIM) – The education authorities in the northern Mozambican province of Cabo Delgado have announced that 106 schools, at both primary and secondary level, may remain closed in the current academic year because of terrorist attacks in some districts.
Rachide Sualehe, spokesperson for the Cabo Delgado Provincial Directorate of Education, told reporters, in the provincial capital, Pemba, that the affected schools are located in the districts of Mocímboa da Praia, Quissanga, Macomia, and Muidumbe.
“Cabo Delgado will begin the school year with 913 schools out of more than a thousand that exist. The province had planned to hire more than 1,000 teachers, but the country’s economic situation meant that only 212 teachers could be hired”, he said.
Sualehe also revealed that Cabo Delgado has registered, up to 2 February, 112,042 new students, out of a total of 139,849 expected. Of the registered children, 69,138 are girls.
The public in Cabo Delgado has been denouncing the use of children by terrorists.
According to sources, cited in Wednesday’s issue of the independent newsheet “Carta de Moçambique”, a group of children was recently involved in an attack against passengers on the road linking the town of Macomia and the Mucojo Administrative Post.
“The blockade and kidnapping of the victims were carried out by minors, some of whom had physical difficulties carrying sacks and other looted goods. Some even had two weapons, which was quite shocking”, a source said.
(AIM)
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