Mozambique is developing socio-economically, which creates new demands for the educational sector. Education is essential to prepare the youth for the demands of a modern society. They are the key to development. Mozambique's strategy aims at increasing enrolment to 86 per cent in ...

five years and to 100 per cent over 10 years. Mozambique requires massive support to achieve to achieve this target by 2015. The Ministry of Education needs partners to contribute to the development of the education sector, which is one of the main focal points of the Action Plan for the Reduction of Absolute Poverty (PARPA). It is for this reason that, ADPP is investing in the lives of thousands of children who would otherwise struggle to gain an education due to social and financial constraints placed upon them. It is important to give these children a chance to build a secure future and take part in the development of their country.

The idea

The idea is to provide children with education to enable them to create a better future for themselves. The ADPP schools are designed to work with orphans as well as children from impoverished backgrounds. The street children’s schools have an education program which combines the standard primary curriculum with intensive life-skills programs which give the children the chance to develop a skill or trade which can enable them to earn income in the future. Presently, ADPP educates almost 3,500 children annually in 4 provinces of Mozambique.

In all schools the teachers create a child-centred learning environment which promotes individual learning and focuses on creating a lively and dynamic social environment. The schools also have a rich program of sports and culture which actively engages all the children and assists to keep them part of the school environment. The ADPP children’s schools also work closely with the local community in order to gain the best support for the children. Working in cooperation with the local authorities, the social welfare department and community leaders, the schools have grounding in the community which makes their programs sustainable and attractive to children and their families.

ADPP is currently running five schools:

• Children’s Town School in Maputo
• Children’s School in Nacala, Nampula province
• Children’s School in Chimoio, Manica province
• Primary and Secondary School Patrice Lumumba in Maputo
• NCV Secondary School, Maputo

The Schools

Cidadela das Crianças (Children’sTown), Maputo

The children who attend this school are from the poorest parts of the Costa do Sol Township in Maputo city.  Many are orphans or children of single parent families. These children need extra attention and stimulation in the classroom environment. This school has a present enrolment of 526, of which 83 are boarding.

Formigas do Futuro, Nacala

This school also serves a very poor township on the outskirts of Nacala city. The township suffers greatly from lack of educational, health and social protection infrastructures. More than 50% of the children are malnourished and the dropout rate is one of the highest in the country. The school presently has an enrolment of 273 children, who receive subsidized education and food at the school. They also participate in a variety of cultural programs after hours.

Formigas do Futuro, Chimoio

This school was developed for the street children in the city of Chimoio 13 years ago. It is now serving the needs of 327 underprivileged children in the township of Nhamatsane. The school works closely with the community to enable children to learn more skills in the area of horticulture, crop production and other income generation skills, whilst pursuing a primary education. The cultural program of this school is a great attraction for children and the local community.

Patrice Lumumba Primary & Secondary School

This is a large primary school with pupil population of 1,136 in a township of Maputo, which offers education to vulnerable children and also youth who have been unable to complete their 1-7th grades. The school has high turn-over of children during the day, sometimes with 3 terms of classes due to the absence of other compatible school in the township.

NCV Secondary School, Maputo

NCV is a secondary school which also offers night classes for youth and specializes in children who have been unable to complete their first level of education. This school has 1,222 pupils, many of whom are involved in extra-curricular activities in order to increase retention rates. The school offers a wide variety of life-skills activities such as HIV/ AIDS prevention clubs, sports tournaments and cultural display teams.