Teacher absenteeism in public schools in the province of Manica is 10% with an increasing trend and may be due to the high level of indebtedness to banks. Some have debts in more than three banks and receive 200 meticais in salary after deductions.

Around 11,000 of the more than 17,000 civil servants are in debt, 3,000 of whom have debts with more than three banks or micro-credit institutions, according to the provincial director of education, Albino Chaparica, quoted by the newspaper Radio Mozambique.

"We have around 3,402 in a very bad situation, where they have debts with more than three banks. These employees are the ones who are absent from school. They end up having salaries of 200 or 1,000 meticais, to the detriment of receiving between 19,000 and 40,000 meticais," he revealed.

The official was speaking this week after teachers from the Tambara District in Manica complained to the provincial governor, Francisca Tomás, about the absence of their colleagues.

"For someone who could receive 20,000 meticais and receives 2,000 meticais, how can he work in the classroom? The answer is no!" [teacher] Filipe Bento asked and answered, anticipating that it won't be possible to achieve the desired results.

For teachers who miss work without just cause, the governor has promised harsh sanctions.

"Those employees who are in debt at the bank and are paid less than they should be and [therefore] don't teach should be given time off," he recommended.