European Union Supports Education In Mozambique 26-11-2003   The European Union has pledged 17 million euros (about 20 million US dollars) to support the Mozambican government's Strategic Education Plan, reports Wednesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias".

The European Union has pledged 17 million euros (about 20 million US dollars) to support the Mozambican government's Strategic Education Plan, reports Wednesday's issue of the daily paper "Noticias".

To that end, the Mozambican Education Ministry signed an agreement with the British government's Department for International Development (DFID), which supplements a memorandum of understanding signed with various donors for the Education Sector Support Fund (FASE).

A source in the education ministry told reporters that the agreement with the British agency is the first step for the disbursing of the pledged money.

FASE is an integrated mechanism for the funding of the Strategic Plan, which aims to increase opportunities of access to education at all levels and improve the quality of this service.

The first stage of this initiative was launched in 1999, while the second is to begin next year. The Education Ministry has budgeted the second stage at 24 million US dollars.

The money is to be used in purchasing school furniture, both for students and for teachers. The plan also includes the building of specialised schools in Gaza, Zambezia, Nampula and Cabo Delgado provinces, the rehabilitation of three others in Gaza, Inhambane, and Nampula, and the refurbishing of classrooms in several provinces.

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