Mozambique's ministry of education blames publishers for errors in Joaquim Chissano's biography in 10th grade textbooks

The ministry claims that the textbook was discontinued in 2022 and had been directed to be withdrawn from circulation. However, if it continues to be sold in bookstores, the responsibility does not lie with MINEDH to remove it from shelves.

The distortion concerns the birth date of former President Joaquim Chissano, erroneously stated in the textbook as October 22, 1969, in Malehice (Gaza Province), which is incorrect since Chissano was born in 1939 and is currently 84 years old.

The textbook inaccurately narrates that Chissano "completed his secondary studies at Liceu Salazar (now Josina Machel Secondary School). He joined the Mozambique Secondary Students Group (NESAM) in 1953, eventually becoming its president." This implies that Chissano attained the position before he was born, given the textbook's claim that he was born in 1969.

Speaking to "O País" newspaper, the Ministry of Education noted that the textbook in question had already been discontinued, and a notice for its withdrawal had been issued on the same date. "We noticed this error regarding the birth date of Joaquim Alberto Chissano in 2022. A report was made, and the action taken by the Ministry of Education, not only for this book but also for all those with errors, was to discontinue it," said Silvestre Dava, spokesperson for MINEDH.

The spokesperson added that the education system has books from other publishers that do not contain the mentioned error. "Once this 10th-grade History book was discontinued, we will use books from other publishers."

"The Ministry of Education's approach in such cases is not to remove the book from the shelves where it is being sold; it is to issue a statement about the authorized manuals in circulation. Therefore, all traders who have this book, knowing it has been discontinued, have no reason to keep it on the shelves," emphasizes MINEDH.