Mozambique’s Ministry of Education and Culture (MEC) has ordered the immediate removal of free textbooks from private schools following reports of the books being sold in bookstores. The MEC acknowledges the possibility of free textbooks appearing for sale due to errors by publishers, specifically citing potential mislabeling during reproduction. The directive, issued on May 7, 2026, instructs provincial and district education authorities to collect the books. Parents are reportedly rushing to bookstores to purchase replacements, particularly in Maputo. The MEC attributes the issue to potential oversights in printing, where books intended for free distribution were mistakenly marked for sale. Simultaneously, schools are facing a shortage of physical textbooks mid-academic year, impacting both public and private institutions, while digital versions are available for ninth-grade students.