On November 1st, 2018, the Plenary Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique approved by consensus the Ministry of Education and Human Development (MINEDH) proposal for the revision of the Law of the National System of Education (LSNE). The Education for All Movement (MEPT) actively contributed with the MINEDH with the aim to enrich the new proposal.

The approved law proposes compulsory schooling from 1st to 9th grade, amending Law 6/92 of 6 May, according to which compulsory schooling was up to the 7th grade cycle known as Complete Primary Education ( which includes the first cycle – from 1st to 5th grade class, and second from 6th to 7th grade class).

The new law introduces, among other changes, the reduction of primary education from 7 to 6 classes, with a continuous curricular plan and in a regime of mono teaching. It proposes the passage from the 7th grade class to basic secondary education, which in turn will be only 9 compulsory classes. This measure has been taken to ensure that all children in the country can complete this level in a timely manner. To do this, children must be enrolled in the first grade class in the year they become 6 years old. The New Law maintains free primary education.

According to her Excellency Concepta Xavier Sortane, Minister of Education and Human Development, the revision of the Law of the National System of Education aims at guaranteeing a basic education, inclusive of all national citizens, with an extension of compulsory schooling: “This Law is also intended to promote access to education, safeguarding the principle of gender equality, equal opportunities and the eradication of illiteracy, “said the Minister.

Among other changes, the new law establishes that the the Law of the National System of Education will be constituted by six subsystems, namely: pre-school education; general education; adult education; professional education; teacher training and higher education.

According to the MINEDH website, the revision of the Law of the National Education System arises from the need to align and harmonise it with the international conventions on education and training of which the country is a subscriber, recommending a basic education of 9 and 10 classes, which is enshrined in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocol on education and training.

Photo credit: Mozambique coalition (MEPT)

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The Global Campaign for Education (GCE) is a civil society movement that aims to end exclusion in education. Education is a basic human right, and our mission is to make sure that governments act now to deliver the right of everyone to a free, quality, public education.