Plans for 2004 school enrolment 05-01-2004   The Mozambican Education Ministry expects to enrol over 3.3 million pupils in primary and secondary education in 2004.

The Mozambican Education Ministry expects to enrol over 3.3 million pupils in primary and secondary education in 2004.

According to the ministry's general inspector, Eurico Banze, speaking to reporters on Friday, the vast majority of these pupils, about three million, will be in first level primary education (EP1 - grades one to five).

The projection is that there will be 198,000 pupils in second level primary education (EP2 - grades six and seven), while all of secondary education will only absorb 158,000 pupils.

Banze said the ministry is currently recruiting a further 8,000 teachers. This was being done carefully, he added, so as to ensure that this year teachers' wages will be paid on time.

The Ministry estimates that 731,000 pupils will enter first grade this year - which is an increase of six per cent on the 2003 figure.

8,418 EP1 schools will operate this year, 343 more than in 2003. But there will only be 171 EP2 schools.

As for the first cycle of secondary education (grades eight to ten), this will be taught in 141 schools, 16 more than last year. But there is no significant change in the schools teaching the second, pre-university cycle.

Banze also announced that two new teacher training colleges will open this year, one in Vilankulo, in the southern province of Inhambane, and the other in Pemba, in the northernmost province of Cabo Delgado.

The enrolment of pupils begins throughout the country on Monday.

www.bernama.com/