Articulation between Upper Secondary and Higher Education: The Case Study of Mozambique

At the time of Independence, in 1975, Mozambique had a very high illiteracy rate of about 93%, there was a lack of qualified personnel and particularly teachers, health care personnel and other specialized people. The country launched massive literacy campaigns and special training programs particularly for social areas. The government created the National System of Education which was followed by a comprehensive curriculum reform. The war in Mozambique affected the whole country and more so the education system. In 1992 the peace agreement was signed. The investments in education were increased, the schools were rebuilt and the educational system was very rapidly expanded with the emphasis to primary education. The paper describes the Mozambican educational system and its evolution since independence. Details are cast on the situation of secondary education and on the transition mechanisms from upper secondary education into higher education. It also pays a special attention to quality assurance mechanisms, regional and gender disparities in the access to higher education, the expansion of higher education institutions to the provinces,etc