MOZAMBIQUE EDUCATIONAL PROFILE

Mozambique has been restructuring its system of education since 1992. The old system was a state run, socialist-oriented system, while the new system includes both government and private educational institutions.

Portuguese is the sole language of instruction throughout the country.

English is taught at the secondary school level and is compulsory. All exams are standardized and produced by the government for both governmental and private schools.

The first 12 years of government schooling in Mozambique are free. The primary school education is 5 years, followed by 5 years of secondary and 2 years of pre-university level.

Students who pass pre-university exams (12th class) are eligible for admission to a three-year bachelor's degree program offered by some Mozambican universities.

To attend a Mozambican University, a student must pass the pre-university admission exam with a minimum of 15 points and have taken one or more subjects from the following groups for a minimum of three years.- Portuguese, English, math, natural sciences (biology and/or science), social science (geography and/or history).

Although the United States does not have a standardized system of grading, to be able to compare the grading scale from the two countries, it is necessary to establish some norms for the Mozambique/U.S. secondary school equivalency:

MOZAMBIQUE - UNITED STATES

19-20 Excellent A - 90-100%
17-18 Very good B - 80-89%
14-16 Good C - 70 - 79%
10 -13 Pass D - 60 - 0%
below 9 - Fail F - below - 60%

University education: Mozambique has established six university-level institutions.

Three are publicly owned.- The Pedagogic University (UP), Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM), and the Higher Institute of International Relations(ISRI).

The three private institutions are the Higher Polytechnic Institute/University (ISPU) and the Catholic University, both set up in 1995, and the Mozambican Institute of Science and Technology (ISCTEM), established in 1996.

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For more information please contact: Argentina Magaia, Cultural Assistant/Educational Adviser American Embassy - PAS Maputo-Mozambique Tel: 258-1-491916 / 491116 Fax:258-1-491918 E-mail:amagaia@pd.state.gov