While there has recently been major progress in Mozambique in improving access to primary education and increasing enrolment rates (from 69 per cent in 2003 to 83 percent in 2005), the quality of education has not improved.
Most school teachers in Mozambique lack formal training, including in physical education and sports. Furthermore, most rural and remote schools do not have proper school buildings, recreation and play facilities or water and sanitation facilities. Classrooms often lack basic commodities. The quality of education is further compromised by the high pupil to teacher ratio (74 to 1) and the increasing proportion of unqualified teachers (44 per cent in 2005).
Girls and vulnerable children are disadvantaged in many areas of education. In some districts, school dropout has reached 62 per cent for girls and 50 per cent for boys. There are also wide geographical disparities in attendance rates - from over 90 per cent attendance in Maputo to less than 50 per cent in rural areas.
UNICEF is running a project in Mozambique through International Inspiration, the sport for development programme of the London 2012 Olympics, building on the existing network of Child Friendly Schools, to advocate for the inclusion of physical education as part of quality schooling.
Working in partnership with the Ministry of Education and local authorities, we are supporting the development of policies and training to show that high quality physical education, sport and play can improve education in primary schools.
A particular focus is being given to girls and orphaned and vulnerable children. At least 6,650 teachers, 1,540 school managers and 2,275 community members will be trained through the programme in order to reach 300,000 children by 2012.
