Education in Mozambique
By Teresa Quain
Education. Everything stems from it really. Most people’s first clear memory is the day they started school. Long after we’ve done our time in the national school system we continue to joke about the tricks we played on unsuspecting teachers who were patiently trying to pass on their knowledge.The friends and contacts we make there unknowingly guide us to choose our area of studies, even where we will later work and live . Education, it’s something all have in common.
There are many opportunities for young people at Young Africa. The college courses are shorter than at home, they range from a few months to a year. The vast majority of students seem to grab this chance with both hands and hold on tight. They smile, ask questions and share the workload. Teachers encourage them to stand up, speak clearly and be courageous. The day begins with assembly and there is often a song among the daily announcements. In-between classes students play football, basketball and volleyball, or just sit and chat in the shade. When we walk around people wave and say hello even if that’s all the English they have. They talk about the future with hope honesty and always humour. Something’s never change.
We can build a new restaurant or motorway here but what’s the point? If no one has been trained as a cook then the building will be empty. Children do not know how to cross a busy road until they watch someone else do it first. On the other hand , if a chef is trained then he or she has the opportunity to bring many people together and contribute to their health and well-being. People will have less accidents on the road if you build it together and treat it with respect. A small seed planted here travels very far.
To see another’s point of view we need to walk a mile in their shoes, whether that’s safety shoes from a building site or just simple flip flops and and have an equal and honest discussion along the way. My point of view is that we all need to be educated a lot more.
