Education Funding in Mozambique: developments and limitations of the current Direct School Support Manual

Abstract

The article analyzes the guidelines for the use of resources allocated to schools within the framework of education funding. In Mozambique, one of the forms of education funding is the direct allocation of resources to schools, known as Direct Support to Schools. The use of resources distributed in this modality follows ministerial guidelines outlined in the Manual of Procedures. These guidelines establish what materials can or cannot be acquired using the allocated resources, pressuring school managers to find other ways to acquire materials not covered. Through a literature review and documentary analysis, it was possible to ascertain that the manual provides for democratic management of resources. However, limitations in terms of acquisitions impact the material conditions of schools and, consequently, the realization of the Right to Education. The established guidelines for material acquisitions do not always meet the real needs of schools, particularly primary schools, making the improvement of material conditions a challenge. Due to these limitations, it is understood that the manual needs to be optimized to grant more autonomy to schools, adapt to the reality of each one, and contribute to the realization of the right to education.