Mozambique wants to open the doors of artificial intelligence to technical and vocational education, but without haste or rupture. The Government's bet, presented today in Maputo, points to a gradual, organised integration adjusted to national reality, in a process that aims to transform young people's training without losing sight of the country's limits and challenges.
“It is not just about introducing new subjects, but about promoting a paradigm shift, seeking digital skills for (…) existing courses, which includes subjects such as programming, automation, data analysis and maintenance of the data system,” said the Secretary of State for Science and Higher Education, Edson Macuácua, at the opening of the Seminar on Artificial Intelligence and Educational Transformation.
Before an audience that brought together Mozambican academics and representatives of some Portuguese universities, Edson Macuácua painted a picture of a change that, in the minister's words, cannot be carried out abruptly. He therefore argued for a collaborative and sustainable strategy, able to involve the Government, educational institutions, the private sector and cooperation partners.
At the centre of this strategy is the review of curriculum frameworks, already under way, to accommodate content linked to digital transformation. The aim, he explained, is to ensure that young Mozambicans do not merely consume technology, but are prepared to understand, apply and adapt technological solutions to the country's concrete needs.
“It is important to stress that integrating artificial intelligence into the technical and vocational education ecosystem is an objective and must be done gradually, in a structured way and aligned with Mozambican reality,” stressed the Secretary of State.
The Government's vision for the coming years involves strengthening skills considered decisive in this new landscape. Among them, Edson Macuácua highlighted advanced digital literacy, specialised technical skills in programming, artificial automation, data analysis and cybersecurity, as well as transversal skills such as critical thinking, problem solving and digital ethics. “Artificial intelligence, more than technical capacity, also demands responsibility,” he stressed.
The speech did not, however, ignore the obstacles. The minister acknowledged that the country continues to face limitations in infrastructure, in workforce training and in the availability of resources. Even so, he insisted that there is a clear political will to move forward.
“We are aware that this path presents us with many challenges. Limitations persist in terms of infrastructure, workers' capacity and available resources; however, there is a clear political will on the part of the Government to move forward (…). Today we believe that our country can not only keep pace with this global transformation, but position itself as a country able to develop talent and lead innovative solutions in the African context,” he declared.
On the sidelines of the seminar, Paulo Serra, a professor from Castelo Branco and guest assistant at the Polytechnic Institute of Castelo Branco, one of the speakers at the event, told Lusa that Mozambique, like many other countries, faces the challenge of building an integrated and inclusive environment for the development of artificial intelligence.
For the Portuguese academic, any transformation in this area must respect the social and cultural context of each country. “The transformation has to be in line with the culture; there is no one-size-fits-all transformation. What we can do afterwards is make adaptations according to the culture, according to the people's vision, because we cannot say that if the Swedes think it should be done in way A, they then look at the people of Mozambique and say now you have to do it in way A,” he explained.
Paulo Serra also drew attention to two factors he considers central to this process: social asymmetries and infrastructure weaknesses. Both, he argued, will have to be taken into account so that technological development does not become the privilege of a few, but a benefit shared by the whole of society.
Despite the difficulties, the professor sees a decisive advantage in Mozambique: its youth. In his reading, it is precisely this young base that could allow the country to make a “qualitative leap” in the use of these technologies, at a time when many nations no longer have the same demographic potential.
