The government intends to use wood seized by authorities to produce school desks, aiming to reduce the furniture deficit affecting thousands of schools across the country.
The information was announced this Wednesday (19) in Parliament by the Minister of Education and Culture, Samira Tovela, during the presentation of the Economic and Social Plan and State Budget (PESOE) proposal for 2026.
According to Lusa, the minister stated that there is currently a deficit of 650,000 school desks, affecting more than 2.5 million students. To mitigate the problem, the Ministry of Education is in dialogue with the Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, and Fisheries, aiming to use wood seized during forest inspection operations for the production of school furniture.
The 2026 budget plan currently provides for the acquisition of 5,161 school desks, a number the government admits is insufficient, hoping to strengthen the response capacity with support from cooperation partners. “The deficit is large, but we are working with the resources we have,” the minister said.
In the same speech, Samira Tovela acknowledged that, despite the Education sector absorbing 26% of the State Budget, available resources remain below actual needs. “Although the Education sector receives a significant share, challenges persist,” she noted, referring to pressure on infrastructure, school materials, and human resources.
In addition to school desks, PESOE 2026 also plans to expand the school lunch program, which is expected to cover 796,158 students in 1,445 schools, as well as the hiring of 10,260 literacy instructors and 2,325 new teachers for general education.
Source: Diário Económico
