The state of education in Mozambique has changed significantly over the last 25 years. A dramatic expansion of its national education system has brought many challenges. Among these —meeting the capacity required to provide an increasing number of students with quality education. Throughout this evolution, Associação Progresso, with continuous support from CODE, has remained relevant, sustainable and highly effective.
The two organizations began working together in 1991 when they jointly launched several initiatives that would help transform education in Mozambique. Learning from an initial project that created school libraries in remote communities in the province of Cabo Delgado, Progresso’s partnership with CODE has evolved to directly support the Ministry of Education in improving the teaching of reading and writing through teacher education, the development of a bilingual education program for primary schools, school libraries, adult education and the promotion of Mozambican children literature.
For nearly two decades Associação Progresso has specifically focused on using literacy to promote changes to practices that are harmful to women and girls and thereby create opportunities for them to develop their ability to improve their living standards. In 2015, Progresso was recognized for this work when it received The UNESCO King Sejong Literacy Prize recognized for innovation in regard to its “Literacy in Local Language, a Springboard for Gender Equality” program. Progresso received its first UNESCO International Reading Association Literacy Prize in 2005.
Last year, as a testament to the impact of Progresso and CODE’s work, the Government of Canada appointed CODE to undertake the delivery of a seven-year, 18-million dollar teacher education reform program in Mozambique. Better Education through Teacher Training for Empowerment and Results — BETTER — is being implemented, together with Associação Progresso and the Mozambican Ministry of Education and Human Development, in four of Mozambique's 12 provinces.
Scott Walter, Executive Director of CODE, credits this success “to the joint collaboration, collective action, long-term vision, mutual respect, and persistency in supporting reading”. Indeed, CODE looks forward to continuing its work with Associação Progresso for many years to come.
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