Education in Eswatini

Last updated

Education in Eswatini includes pre-school, primary, secondary and high schools, for general education and training (GET), and universities and colleges at tertiary level.

Contents

Pre-school education is usually for children five years or younger. Primary school education begins for children at age seven, at the end of which students take the external primary school certificate exam. Primary school is followed by junior secondary school which is three years. The final two years of secondary school lead to pre-university training. The final school exam is the Swaziland General Certificate of Education (SGCSE) or the International General Certificate of Education (IGCSE). A few schools offer the AS and A-levels or the International Baccalaureate.

Tertiary education in Eswatini includes universities, technical and vocational colleges, teacher and nursing colleges and business colleges, located in various towns and cities around the country, with the biggest concentration being in the Manzini-Mbabane corridor. The University of Eswatini is the national university, and the only institution offering research level and post-graduate facilities in the country. Many students enroll in universities and colleges in neighboring countries such as South Africa.[ citation needed ]

The Human Rights Measurement Initiative (HRMI) [1] finds that Eswatini is fulfilling only 55.7% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to education based on the country's level of income. [2] HRMI breaks down the right to education by looking at the rights to both primary education and secondary education. While taking into consideration Eswatini's income level, the nation is achieving 67.4% of what should be possible based on its resources (income) for primary education but only 44.1% for secondary education. [3]

Early childhood to high school

In Eswatini, early childhood care and education (ECCE) centers are in the form of preschools or neighborhood care points (NCPs). 21.6% of preschool-age children had access to early childhood education in 2015. [4] Primary education in Eswatini begins at the age of six, and is a seven-year program that culminates with an end of primary school examination [SPC], in grade 7, which is a locally based assessment administered by the Examinations Council through schools. Primary education is from grade 1 to grade 7. [5]

The secondary and high school education system in Eswatini is a five-year program divided into three years of junior secondary and two years of senior secondary. There is an external public examination (Junior Certificate) at the end of the junior secondary years which students must pass in order to progress to the senior secondary level. The Examination Council of Swaziland (ECOS) administers this examinations. [6]

At the end of the senior secondary level, students take a public examination, the Swaziland General Certificate of Secondary Education (SGCSE) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE), which is accredited by the Cambridge International Examination (CIE). A few schools offer the Advanced Studies (AS) programme in their curriculum. [6]

There are 830 public schools in Eswatini, including primary, secondary, and high schools. [7] There also 34 recognised private schools, with an additional 14 unrecognised. The biggest number of schools is in the Hhohho region. [7] Education in Eswatini, as of 2009, is free at the primary level, mainly grades 1 through 4, and is also free for orphaned and vulnerable children, though not compulsory. [8]

In 1996, the net primary school enrollment rate was 90.8%, with gender parity at the primary level. [8] In 1998, 80.5% of children reached grade five. [8]

Swaziland is home to a United World College. In 1963, Waterford school, later named Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa, was founded as southern Africa's first multiracial school. In 1981, Waterford Kamhlaba joined the United World Colleges movement as the first and only United World College on the African continent.[ citation needed ]

Adult and non-formal education centres include Sebenta National Institute for adult basic literacy and Emlalatini Development Centre, which provides alternative educational opportunities for school children and young adults who have not been able to complete their schooling.

St Joseph's School is known for providing services for disabled students as well as vocational training for adults.

In 2019, the Kirsh Foundation began installing "free fast Internet" to Emaswati primary schools, promoting parity in education with developed nations, with the target goal of 100 schools online that are already furnished with computer equipment by the foundation's computer education trust, with Philip Kirsh overseeing the installations. [9]

Higher education

The University of Eswatini, Southern African Nazarene University, Swaziland Christian University are the institutions that offer university education in the country. A campus of Limkokwing University of Creative Technology can be found at Sidvwashini, a suburb of the capital Mbabane. There are some teaching and nursing assistant colleges around the country. Ngwane Teacher's College and William Pitcher College are the country's teaching colleges. The Good Shepherd Hospital in Siteki is home to the College for Nursing Assistants. [10] [11]

The University of Swaziland is the national university which was established in 1982 by act of parliament and is headquartered at Kwaluseni with two more campuses in Mbabane and Luyengo. [12] The Southern African Nazarene University (SANU) was established in 2010 as a merger of the Nazarene College of Nursing, College of Theology and the Nazarene Teachers College. It is located in Manzini next to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital. [13] [14] The Swaziland Christian University is Swaziland's newest university having been established in 2012 with focus on medical education. [15] The university is located in Mbabane. [16] The campus of Limkokwing University was opened in Eswatini in 2012 and is located at Sidvwashini in Mbabane. [17]

The main centre for technical training in Eswatini is the Swaziland College of Technology which is slated to become a full university. [18] It aim to provide and facilitating high quality training and learning in technology and business studies in collaboration with the Commercial, Industrial and Public Sectors. [19] Other technical and vocational institutions are the Gwamile Vocational and Commercial Training Institute located in Matsapha and the Manzini Industrial and Training Centre (MITC) in Manzini. Other vocational institutions include Nhlangano Agricultural Skills Training Center and Siteki Industrial Training Centre.

In addition to these institutions, Eswatini also has the Swaziland Institute of Management and Public Administration (SIMPA) and Institute of Development Management (IDM). SIMPA is a government owned management and development institute and IDM is a regional organisation in Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini that provides training, consultancy, and research in management. [20] The Mananga management centre was established as Mananga Agricultural Management Centre in 1972 as an International Management Development Centre catering for middle and senior managers, it is located at Ezulwini. [21]

Libraries

The Swaziland National Library Service is the national library department under the Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology. [22] It is headquartered at the public library in Mbabane. Branches of the national library are located in the main cities and towns around the country. The Swaziland National Library Service operates public community libraries throughout Eswatini and establishes school libraries in partnership with Fundza, a non-governmental organization and the African Library Project. [23]

The library of the University of Swaziland also provides library services in Eswatini to the university community and to external members. The Swaziland library association (SWALA) an organisation formed in 1984 promotes the establishment of libraries in the country. [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eswatini</span> Country in Southern Africa

Eswatini, formally the Kingdom of Eswatini and also known by its former official name Swaziland and formerly the Kingdom of Swaziland, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. It is bordered by Mozambique to its northeast and South Africa to its north, west, south, and southeast. At no more than 200 km (120 mi) north to south and 130 km (81 mi) east to west, Eswatini is one of the smallest countries in Africa; despite this, its climate and topography are diverse, ranging from a cool and mountainous highveld to a hot and dry lowveld.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbabane</span> Capital of Eswatini

Mbabane is the most populous city in Eswatini, and is one of the two capitals, serving as the executive capital.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hhohho Region</span> Place in Eswatini

Hhohho is a region of Eswatini, located in the north western part of the country. Hhohho was named after the capital of King Mswati II, who expanded the Swazi territory to the north and west, taking in the districts of Barberton, Nelspruit, Carolina and Piet Retief. These areas were later acquired by what was the Province of Transvaal and today they form part of the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa. It has an area of 3,625.17 km², a population of 320,651 (2017), and is divided into 14 tinkhundla. The administrative center is the national capital of Mbabane. It borders Lubombo Region on the southeast and Manzini Region in the southwest.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Botswana</span>

Education in Botswana is provided by public schools and private schools. Education in Botswana is governed by the Ministries of Basic Education. and Tertiary, Research Science and Technology Among sub-Saharan African countries, Botswana has one of the highest literacy rates. According to The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency as of 2015, 88.5% of the population age 15 and over can read and write in Botswana were respectively literate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manzini</span> Largest city of Eswatini

Manzini is a large city in Eswatini (Swaziland), which is also the city of Eswatini's Manzini Region. The city is the country's second largest urban center behind the capital Mbabane, with a population of 110,000 (2008). It is known as "The Hub" of Eswatini and lies on the MR3 road. Eswatini's primary industrial site at Matsapha lies near the town's western border.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Nepal</span>

Education in Nepal has been modeled on the Indian system, which is in turn the legacy of the old British Raj. The National Examinations Board (NEB) supervises all standardized tests. The Ministry of Education is responsible for managing educational activities in Nepal. The National Center for Educational Development (NCED) is Nepal's teacher-training body.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of Eswatini</span> Public university in Eswatini

The University of Eswatini is the national university of Eswatini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Sri Lanka</span>

Education in Sri Lanka has a long history that dates back two millennia. While the Constitution of Sri Lanka does not provide free education as a fundamental right, the constitution mentions that 'the complete eradication of illiteracy and the assurance to all persons of the right to universal and equal access to education at all levels" in its section on directive principles of state policy at (27. Sri Lanka's population had an adult literacy rate of 96.3% in 2015, which is above average by world and regional standards. Computer literacy in 2017 28.3% and phone users in 2017 105%, website users 32% in 2017. Education plays a major part in the life and culture of the country, which dates back to 543 BC. Sri Lanka's modern educational system modeled after Christian missionary system was brought about by its integration into the British Empire in the 19th century. Education currently falls under the control of both the Central Government and the Provincial Councils, with some responsibilities lying with the Central Government and the Provincial Council having autonomy for others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Limkokwing University of Creative Technology</span> Private university in Malaysia

Limkokwing University of Creative Technology is a private university that has a presence across Africa, Europe, and Asia. With its main campus in Malaysia, the university has over 30,000 students from more than 150 countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Liberia</span>

Education in Liberia was severely affected by the First Liberian Civil War and Second Liberian Civil War, between 1989 and 2003. In 2010, the literacy rate of Liberia was estimated at 60.8%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Education in Bhutan</span>

Western-style education was introduced to Bhutan during the reign of Ugyen Wangchuck (1907–26). Until the 1950s, the only formal education available to Bhutanese students, except for private schools in Ha and Bumthang, was through Buddhist monasteries. In the 1950s, several private secular schools were established without government support, and several others were established in major district towns with government backing. By the late 1950s, there were twenty-nine government and thirty private primary schools, but only about 2,500 children were enrolled. Secondary education was available only in India. Eventually, the private schools were taken under government supervision to raise the quality of education provided. Although some primary schools in remote areas had to be closed because of low attendance, the most significant modern developments in education came during the period of the First Development Plan (1961–66), when some 108 schools were operating and 15,000 students were enrolled.

Education in Lesotho has undergone reforms in recent years, meaning that primary education is now free, universal, and compulsory.

Prostitution in Eswatini is illegal, the anti-prostitution laws dating back to 1889, when the country Eswatini was a protectorate of South Africa. Law enforcement is inconsistent, particularly near industrial sites and military bases. Police tend to turn a blind eye to prostitution in clubs. There are periodic clamp-downs by the police.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ntjanini</span> Village in Shiselweni, Eswatini

Ntjanini is a small village set in a valley in the south of Eswatini in the Shiselweni District. The village is situated 120 km from Manzini and 145 km from Mbabane. The closest town to Ntjanini is Nhlangano (60 km), which is the administrative town for the Shiselweni District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sibonelo Mngometulu</span> Eswatini royal consort

Sibonelo Mngometulu, known as Inkhosikati LaMbikiza, is the third and senior wife of King Mswati III of Eswatini. Sibonelo married Mswati III in 1986, becoming the first wife he personally chose to marry, following two ceremonious marriages. She is the mother of Princess Sikhanyiso Dlamini and Prince Lindani Dlamini.

The Mater Dolorosa Church or just Mater Dolorosa Parish, is a Catholic church located in the city of Mbabane, Eswatini (Swaziland). It is adjacent to a secondary and elementary school of the same name.

Eswatini Bank, also known as Eswatini Development & Savings Bank (EDSP), is a development finance institution, which doubles as a commercial bank in Eswatini. It is licensed and supervised by the Central Bank of Eswatini, the national banking regulator. As of April 2019 Eswatini Bank was the only indigenous commercial bank in the country, with the other three having their headquarters in neighboring South Africa.

A series of protests in Eswatini against the absolute monarchy and for democratisation began in late June 2021. Starting as a peaceful protest on 20 June, they escalated after 25 June into violence and looting over the weekend when the government took a hardline stance against the demonstrations and prohibited the delivery of petitions. Lower-level unrest and protests continued until summer 2023.

Dorothy Davis Cook was an American missionary registered nurse with the Church of the Nazarene who served in Swaziland (now Eswatini from 1940 to 1972. Cook built the nurse aide program and established the first state-registered nurse program in Swaziland. She was given the nickname “Mother of Swazi Nurses” for the education she provided to several hundred Swazi Christian nurses.

References

  1. "Human Rights Measurement Initiative – The first global initiative to track the human rights performance of countries". humanrightsmeasurement.org. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  2. "Eswatini - HRMI Rights Tracker". rightstracker.org. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  3. "Eswatini - HRMI Rights Tracker". rightstracker.org. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
  4. "Early Childhood & Care Education" . Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  5. "Primary Education" . Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  6. 1 2 "Secondary Education" . Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  7. 1 2 Ministry of Education. "School Lists" (PDF). Swaziland Govt. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  8. 1 2 3 "2001 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor". Bureau of International Labor Affairs, U.S. Department of Labor. 2002. Archived from the original on May 15, 2009. Retrieved 29 December 2009.
  9. Magango, Mhlengi "Over 100 govt schools to have free, fast internet", beginning with Vulamasango High School, in January; Swazi Observer on PressReader.com; 14 Jan 2019. Accessed 3 July 2019.
  10. "PROGRAMME: Good Shepherd Hospital, Siteki, Swaziland - CBM International". Archived from the original on 2016-03-02. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  11. Hester Klopper (2012). The State of Nursing and Nursing Education in Africa. Sigma Theta Tau. ISBN   978-1935476849.
  12. "History". Archived from the original on 16 December 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  13. "Church of the Nazarene Africa Region" . Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  14. "- Church of the Nazarene". Archived from the original on 16 February 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  15. "접속하신 사이트는이용 기간이 만료되었습니다". Scusz.ac. Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2018-08-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. "접속하신 사이트는이용 기간이 만료되었습니다". Scusz.ac. Archived from the original on 2014-07-07. Retrieved 2018-08-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. Rooney, Richard (16 November 2012). "Swaziland: Limkokwing Reduces Minister to Tears" via AllAfrica.
  18. "Swaziland News". Archived from the original on 18 July 2014. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  19. "SCOT welcomes you!". Archived from the original on 2015-08-29. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  20. "Welcome To IDM". Archived from the original on 2014-11-09. Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  21. "Company History | Mananga". Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2014-02-07.
  22. "National Library Services" . Retrieved 1 September 2015.
  23. "Library Partner – Swaziland National Library Service". Africanlibraryproject.org. Retrieved 22 March 2012.
  24. "About Swala". www.swala.sz. Archived from the original on 7 June 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2022.