A warm place to learn and grow
The Scandinavian School is a small Scandinavian school and preschool located in the heart of Maputo. We follow the Swedish curriculum and offer a calm, caring environment where children grow through knowledge, play, and community.
Our mission is to nurture curiosity, confidence and kindness through meaningful learning and care.
Legacy in the making
The Scandinavian School in Maputo is a non-profit, parent-run school and preschool that follows Sweden’s national curriculum. Established in 1979 by Nordic families living in Mozambique, the institution has built a reputation for its school spirit and inclusive atmosphere, welcoming families of all nationalities.
Key values include respect, equality, openness and a child-centered approach to learning, that supports every student’s unique path.
A sustainable mindset
Sustainability is a natural part of everyday life at school. Even our youngest preschoolers learn about our recycling program. Students compost, reuse materials in creative projects and take part in environmental tasks and community clean-up walks. The school always aims to reduce its carbon footprint and wants to raise awareness of how recycling can improve. Parents can even bring waste like plastic, glass and batteries from home and have it recycled through the school’s system.
We teach our students the meaning of sustainability. We aim to raise aware, responsible citizens that understand the importance of caring for our planet for future generations.
Our educational methodology
Offering both preschool and primary education, defining features include small class sizes and a strong focus not only on academic achievement, but on the whole child’s development. Children explore the world through creativity, curiosity and play – and grow through meaningful and structured learning.
Our experienced educators foster a calm, caring and collaborative environment, where every child is seen, heard and acknowledged.
The board
School governance
Our school is run by a parent association. A board is elected annually and meets monthly to decide the school’s strategic direction, support development and relay directives to the principal. Families are welcome to engage and contribute.
The principal
Leadership & daily tasks
Our principal leads the day-to-day operations and ensures a high-quality learning environment for all students. With a focus on care, inclusion and structure, the principal works closely with staff and families – and delivers on goals set by the board.
Our teachers
Shaping the future
Our educator team combines Swedish-licensed teachers with locally employed staff. Together, they bring warmth, knowledge, experience and creativity to the classroom, encouraging every child to grow with confidence.
At the center of every day
We believe lunchtime is one of the most important parts of the day. Children sit together and eat varied and nutritious meals, composed by in-house chefs.
Dietary restrictions? No problem. Our staff has experience with cutting out allergens like lactose, nuts and gluten on an individual basis and are able to provide a meat free or full vegetarian diet for those that require this.
We have a passion for making sure your child gets the diet that’s right for them.
‘The Scandinavian school has been a second home for our son Noah (now in preschool) for the last 2 years. All the staff, administration and of course the teachers are extremely nurturing and help Noah excel in everyday activities. Noah loves going to school and seeing all his peers. The school itself for us is a little piece of Scandinavia mixed with the wonders of an international environment. We highly recommend The Scandinavian School of Maputo, so much so that our little Julia will join now too.’
Sidsel and Victor
‘Our son Chai joined the Scandinavian School in Maputo when he was just one year old, and it quickly became a place where he truly flourished. At such a tender age, being outdoors, free to explore, move, and play, was so important for his development. Surrounded by nature, gentle guidance, and other children, Chai learned how to socialise, feel confident, and belong. The warmth, care, and sense of community made the school feel like a second home for our family. We will always be grateful for the beautiful start it gave our son.’
Talumba and Paulo
‘Our family of five spent nearly five years in Maputo on an international contract. There’s a six-year age gap between our kids, and they all went to The Scandinavian School. Through the years, we had so many great experiences and met so many wonderful people through the school. There’s such a warm and inclusive atmosphere and the kids really loved both the regular days and the out of the ordinary events, like going to camp. After starting out in a new country and a new international school, the children also miss the classroom environment, where smaller groups make it easy to connect with teachers for support when needed. With so many great memories, we can’t recommend the school enough!’
Filippa and Anders
‘Our three children had the privilege of growing up at the Scandinavian School in Maputo – a place that has left a lasting and very special mark on our family. Our two youngest were just babies when they started, and we instantly knew this school was something special. For us, it always felt a bit magical. The children spent their days climbing trees, playing in the sand, swimming in the pool, learning, exploring, and being in nature. They learned Swedish in a Mozambican environment, surrounded by bilingual teachers who moved naturally between Swedish, Portuguese, and English. Another beautiful aspect of the school is the inter-age learning, nurturing such empathy and community. The Scandinavian School truly became our second home. We miss it dearly and wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who wants their child to experience a nurturing, joyful, and empathetic start in life.’
Amanda and Narciso
‘Our son and daughter were 4 and 7 when we moved from Stockholm to Maputo. They settled in straight away and genuinely love coming to school. They often want to be dropped off early in the morning so they can play before class - the football field, monkey bars, climbing hut and sandpit are all favorites! We also enjoy being able to use the pool and facilities in the weekends. The location in Polana works really well for us since it's close to the office and home, and we don't have to compete with traffic. In class the kids get to work on lots of different and creative projects that keep them engaged. And the bi-annual school camp has been a fantastic opportunity for them to gain confidence and broaden their perspective, while having a total blast with their friends.’
Chelsea and Raúl
‘When we moved to Mozambique from Europe two years ago, our daughter’s gluten intolerance was one of our biggest concerns. Seeing how the school has handled the situation with an individualised diet has been such a relief. We have been so impressed with how the kitchen staff have managed our daughter’s food restrictions, making sure she gets home cooked and nutritious lunches, suited to her needs, every day of the week.’
Jenny and Isak
Step into a place to grow
Explore how we combine knowledge, care, and creativity every day.