Fainting in schools without assistance from teachers and principals worries female students

Fainting incidents in different schools across the country, particularly in Nampula Province in northern Mozambique, have been increasing, with most of the affected individuals being female students who collapse within school premises.

On the morning of Wednesday, April 15 of the current year, Mozanorte visited several schools in the city, with emphasis on Cidade Alta Secondary School and the nearby basic school, where some students expressed frustration over the lack of assistance from school management and teachers during fainting episodes.

“Students have been fainting very frequently. This happens a lot here at school. For example, my colleague and friend Valentina recently fainted and was taken to the pedagogical section. Even so, teachers and principals distance themselves from the students; they don’t even try to find out who their parents are or which class they belong to. They simply leave the person until she regains consciousness.”

Valentina, a 12th-grade student at Cidade Alta Secondary School, who also suffers from fainting episodes, said that when she fainted, she only received help from her classmates. Afterwards, her parents and guardians were contacted.

On the other hand, student Milenia Nelson, a 7th-grade student at Triângulo Santa Maria Secondary School, stated that the situation at her school is different:

“At my school, there are also fainting cases. Many girls have experienced this problem. Last year, there were about 43 students affected. However, teachers and principals provide assistance and contact parents or guardians after each incident. This year, there have been no cases so far.”

In an attempt to hear the other side, the director of Cidade Alta Basic School was approached, but due to work commitments, he was absent, attending duties at the District Directorate of Education.

Data in our possession indicate that fainting incidents in schools have been increasing in recent days across different institutions in the country, raising concern within the community. (Gabriel Cassimo)