Mozambican President, Daniel Chapo, has dismissed Education Minister Samaria Tovela, following widespread criticism of remarks in which she appeared to blame teachers for their financial difficulties, in a move seen as a response to growing tensions between educators and the government.
Chapo announced Tovela’s removal from office and appointed Édson Macuácua, formerly Secretary of State for Science and Higher Education, as her replacement.
Macuácua also serves as chairperson of the Technical Commission for the Inclusive National Dialogue.
The dismissal comes weeks after Tovela sparked outrage among teachers when she suggested that many of their financial problems stemmed from poor personal budgeting rather than low incomes or delayed government payments.
Speaking during the Education Ministry’s 2nd Coordinating Council early this month, Tovela said teachers’ debts were largely a consequence of spending beyond their means.
“It’s a matter of having a budget and knowing how to organise yourself within that budget rather than incurring debt that you cannot repay,” she said at the time.
The remarks drew criticism from educators who have for years complained about low salaries and unresolved overtime payments, with many arguing that the minister had failed to acknowledge the economic pressures facing teaching professionals.
The controversy further strained already tense relations between the ministry and the National Association of Teachers (ANAPRO), which has been pressing the government to settle a long-running dispute over unpaid overtime allowances.
ANAPRO has repeatedly accused the authorities of failing to respond adequately to teachers’ demands, arguing that several rounds of dialogue had yielded little progress.
In a related reshuffle, Chapo appointed Isaú Menezes as the new Secretary of State for Science and Higher Education.
