Mozambique promises to pay debts of nearly 30 thousand teachers by December

The Government of Mozambique intends to hire 2920 educators and 598 healthcare specialists in 2027. Furthermore, according to the budget proposal, over 13 thousand young people will be integrated into pre-vocational internships.

These measures are included in the Economic and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE) for 2027, which will subsequently be submitted for consideration by the Assembly of the Republic. The education sector will account for the largest share of new hires to meet the needs of the national education system.

The document also provides for the hiring of 43 kindergarten teachers, as well as serving 163,867 children under five years old in childcare centers and public schools. It is planned to distribute 23,260 school kits and support 1,218 children with special educational needs.

In the healthcare sector, the government expects to hire 598 specialists. Simultaneously, it aims to ensure vaccination coverage of at least 95% of children under one year old and guarantee the availability of 87% of essential medicines in medical institutions.

In the labor market, the executive branch emphasizes vocational integration programs for youth, including integrating 13,122 young people into pre-vocational internships and counseling 20,204 job seekers. Additionally, 791 self-employment kits and funding for 160 youth initiatives through the Youth Initiative Support Fund are planned.

In social and labor spheres, the government intends to register 98,201 employed workers and 25,000 self-employed individuals in the Social Security System. Concurrently, it plans to cover 886,719 households below the poverty line through social assistance and inclusion programs.

Among the measures aimed at empowering women economically, PESOE includes distributing 2,158 income-generating kits and training 8,550 women and girls in entrepreneurship.

According to the government, these actions should contribute to increasing employment opportunities, stimulating business initiatives, and strengthening social protection amid a projected economic growth rate of 1.6% by 2027.

The Mozambican government expects the country's economy to grow by 1.6% in 2027, with average inflation reaching 7%, the budget deficit hitting 4.6% of GDP, and the Mozambique Development Bank being commissioned.

These target figures are outlined in the draft Economic and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE) for 2027, which was provided to Lusa. This document defines the executive branch's economic and social priorities for the coming year and is due to be presented to the Assembly of the Republic.

The main priority stated in the draft is ensuring the sustainability of public finances. Within fiscal management, the 2027 budget policy will be based on a prudent, reliable approach and macrofiscal discipline.

The government plans to attract global resources amounting to 511.162 million meticais (7.099 million euros), while simultaneously aiming to reduce the budget deficit to 4.6% of GDP and limit the state's use of domestic credit to 1.9% of GDP.

The draft emphasizes that under this macroeconomic context, real GDP growth is expected to be 1.6% in 2027, alongside a slowdown in average annual inflation to 7.0%.

For 2026, the government forecasts economic growth at 0.6% of GDP after a downward adjustment, having recognized an economic impact equivalent to 2% of GDP caused by floods at the beginning of the year.

The draft provides for state revenues of approximately 427 billion meticais (5.9 billion euros), accounting for 23.5% of GDP, while expenditures and financial operations should amount to approximately 511 billion meticais (7.1 billion euros), or 28.1% of GDP. Thus, the budget deficit will be about 83 billion meticais (1.2 billion euros), corresponding to 4.6% of GDP.

The government characterizes the PESOE as the 'main instrument for the Government's economic, social, and budgetary planning,' aimed at 'strengthening macroeconomic stability and promoting sustainable and inclusive development of Mozambique.'

According to the document, economic transformation will be one of the main priorities for the next year, based on increasing national production, diversifying the economy, and developing value chains.

The draft indicates that the executive branch will focus efforts on implementing strategic initiatives with a high multiplier effect. The main tools named here are the Local Economic Development Fund (FDEL), the Women's Opportunity Promotion Fund (PRO-MULHER), and the Mozambique Development Bank (BDM).

FDEL will receive an allocation of 1.5 billion meticais (20.8 million euros), and PRO-MULHER will receive 500 million meticais (6.9 million euros) to finance productive business and income generation.

The Mozambique Development Bank, which will be launched in 2027, is presented in the document as a tool intended for 'financing long-term strategic projects' capable of increasing production and productivity, especially in the energy, agriculture, industry, and tourism sectors.

The executive branch also asserts that combining these mechanisms with attracting foreign direct investment and business environment reforms will help mitigate the credit constraints faced by the private sector, particularly micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

In agriculture, which is considered strategic for food security and job creation, the government plans to produce 17,600 tons of certified seeds, support 1,482,451 producers and 8,845 fishermen, distribute 155 thousand agricultural kits, and provide 100 thousand multipurpose silos.

The plan also includes training 2,646 aquaculture farmers, providing 170 motorboats, placing 500 floating cages, and financing 54 fishing projects.

The National Association of Teachers (Anapro) in Mozambique today expressed its dissatisfaction with the non-payment of debts related to overtime hours, in addition to criticizing the low investment in education, citing the shortage of school materials, in reference to Teacher's Day.

Marcos Mulima, spokesperson for Anapro, told Lusa that the teachers' message reflects frustration due to the general situation, mentioning the absence of dialogue, the non-payment of overtime, and the exclusionary nature of administrative acts.

According to the organization, this day serves to highlight the feeling of despair regarding the delays in the full payment of overtime accumulated since 2022, despite previous promises made by the Government.

Additionally, it was reported that the group submitted a request to the Administrative Court to monitor public finances in this process, but has not yet received a response.

Mulima stressed that the issue of overtime has never been resolved, contrasting with the President of the Republic's promises to solve the problems as soon as financial availability allowed, while the country had resources for other areas. He demanded that the Government honor its promises, stating that teachers are only demanding compliance with legality and are not in a state of begging; if the Constitution of the Republic is respected, labor rights must be respected.

In June, the Government had assured the regularization of overtime from 2022 and 2023, although it acknowledged that some provinces still face difficulties in paying debts related to 2023.

Meanwhile, the Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo, informed last month that the debts owed to teachers, totaling 2.2 billion meticais (equivalent to 29.7 million euros) just for 2024, are being paid according to the State's financial capacity, guaranteeing full payment.

Anapro also pointed to 'weak investment' in the education sector, observing the reduction in hiring new teachers in a scenario where there is no construction of new school facilities, even with an increase in new students. Mulima detailed serious problems with the distribution of textbooks and raised the issue of lack of medical and pharmaceutical assistance to teachers, despite having a discount for this purpose, suggesting the creation of a management body for these funds.

The National Organization of Teachers (ONP) emphasized the persistence of the shortage of school materials in schools, requesting improvements in the economic and housing conditions for this category to achieve better performance. The Secretary-General of ONP, Teodoro Muidumbe, asked the Government to maintain focus on career progression, overtime payment, and allocating more resources for continuing education, as he believes that investing in the teacher is the safest way to combat poverty and ensure sustainable development.

Marking the date, Daniel Chapo recognized that population growth represents a challenge for education, promising efforts to improve school facilities and strengthen teacher training. He added that he recognizes the challenges faced by the teaching staff, including career management, professional development, and overtime processing, affirming that these issues require responsible, transparent, and sustainable answers based on dialogue and seeking joint solutions with teachers.