Nampula faces deficit of more than 3,000 teachers

A nampula province, the most populous of Mozambique, faces a deficit of over 3,000 teachers, despite the hiring of 351 new teachers this year, for about two million students, announced today the local authorities.

“ Despite the admission of 351 teachers in 2026, the deficit continues to be a challenge for the sector, which has 2,505 schools and about two million students,” said Lusa provincial director of Education William Tunzine.

According to the data presented by the head, the province currently accounts for 33,242 state officials and agents in the education sector, of which 27,800 are teachers.

The shortage of teachers is aggravated by the health problems affecting the class, with 1,169 employees living with chronic diseases, of which 1,059 are teachers. Another 305 employees are bedridden, including 296 teachers.

“ The case of teachers is very serious, very serious. Because there are cases of teachers who abandon treatment and this is serious”, said William Tunzine.

The provincial secretary of the National Teacher Organization (ONP) in Nampula, André Jane, revealed that about 1,200 teachers face different health problems, including malaria, hypertension and HIV, with cases of teachers who do not follow the prescribed treatments properly, despite the mobilization and follow-up actions promoted by the trade union structure.

Medical and drug care is another challenge, since according to the ONP, the discounts made in wages are not accompanied by a regular provision of services, estimating that care covers only about half of the needs.

In addition to health problems, the sector has registered the death of almost 150 teachers since January, a situation that continues to press human resources management.

“Only this year [...] we have lost about 147 colleagues, until today we are talking, two of them by suicide and seven by sudden death,” said the provincial director of Education.

The responsible advocates greater flexibility in the management of human resources and measures to improve the conditions of teachers, in a context where debt and mental health also require attention, especially in the prevention of suicide.