Maputo, Aug. 5, 2026 (Lusa) - The president of the Portuguese association Helpo highlighted on Wednesday the increasing pressure on school infrastructure in the northern provinces of Mozambique, attributing the phenomenon to population growth and the influx of displaced people from Cabo Delgado.
«There is clearly demographic pressure, which is visible. In Nampula, in particular, a very large population increase is very evident,» said Selma Uamusse, president of the Portugal-based Non-Governmental Development Organisation (NGDO), in an interview with Lusa today.
After spending two weeks visiting projects funded by Helpo in the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado, she said she had found schools and communities coping with a significant population increase, exacerbated by the arrival of displaced people from Cabo Delgado, a province rich in natural gas and affected by armed attacks since October 2017, as well as by the increased demand for basic services, particularly in the area of education.
«In Nampula, there are also many displaced people from Cabo Delgado, which means that the existing infrastructure, school equipment and schools are not sufficient for so many pupils; consequently, there are not enough classrooms, many classes are very large, and there is a shortage of teachers,» she said.
According to the president of Helpo, the rise in pupil numbers is placing increased pressure on the region's already vulnerable communities, straining the capacity of schools and the organisation's support programmes.
«We are talking about very large communities with many people in extremely vulnerable situations,» she said.
Selma Uamusse also highlighted that the increase in the number of beneficiaries is forcing the organisation to continually adapt its assistance programmes, particularly in education and school meals: «For us, the challenge is to stretch what would perhaps be a budget for 500 children to cover 2,000 children.» In addition to the consequences of insecurity, she highlighted the impact of cyclones on educational infrastructure, particularly on the Island of Mozambique in Nampula province, where Helpo is implementing various social development projects and advocating for more resilient buildings.
«It is very important that future buildings are constructed in a planned manner, because we know that extreme weather events will continue to wreak havoc,» she argued.
In Cabo Delgado, Selma Uamusse highlighted the challenges faced by communities affected by the armed conflict, calling for more school infrastructure and the strengthening of school feeding programmes supported by Helpo.
According to the NGO's president, one of the main concerns raised by the communities visited was the shortage of classrooms to accommodate the high number of pupils, as well as the need to expand the school snack programme.
She emphasised that the school snack programme remains vital for many families, as it is one of the few meals to which many children have access through school.
During the visit, Uamusse said she had been particularly impressed by the determination of young people from areas affected by the conflict in Cabo Delgado. This armed insurgency, claimed by extremist movements, has, according to data from organisations on the ground, already caused more than 6,600 deaths and displaced 1.2 million people in the province.
«My first major impression is of the great bravery shown by many pupils who come from very remote communities, who have managed to escape the insurgents and who find the strength and courage to study and complete Year 12,» she said.
For the president of Helpo, this resilience contrasts with the ongoing difficulties people on the ground face, and she called for increased support for education and food aid.
According to Uamusse, the reduction in some international aid flows makes the role of individual sponsors and private donors in providing humanitarian support in the region even more important.
«Increasing population pressure means there is a greater need for funding,» she warned.
For her, direct support from sponsors is currently one of the most reliable sources for sustaining the organisation's activities.
Despite the challenges, Selma Uamusse highlighted progress in the communities supported by Helpo, noting an increase in the number of pupils continuing their education through to secondary school.
The organisation's president also highlighted the results of vocational guidance programmes, the digitisation of education and youth capacity-building, stating that during her visit, she had met several former beneficiaries who had gone on to higher education, set up their own businesses or become volunteers and staff members at Helpo.
«I heard many accounts of success stories,» she said, adding that some of the young people supported by the organisation «were once sponsored, went on to become Helpo volunteers and eventually staff members as well».
Regarding Helpo's future work in Mozambique, Uamusse said the organisation intends to continue expanding its university scholarship programmes, support for digital learning and vocational guidance, although she emphasised that achieving these objectives will depend on funding availability.
The organisation's president stated that there is still much to be done, lamenting that there are still schools in Cabo Delgado where pupils attend lessons outdoors due to a lack of classrooms.
Helpo, which has been operating in Mozambique since 2008, carries out projects in the provinces of Nampula and Cabo Delgado, promoting development through education, nutrition, maternal and child health and humanitarian and emergency aid. The NGDO reports that it has already built 149 classrooms, awarded 15,592 scholarships for secondary education and 61 for higher education, and implemented 15 projects, reaching 159,511 beneficiaries in 2025.
LCE/ADB // ADB.JMC
Lusa/Fim
