BY GCWALISILE MHLABANE
MANZINI– Government has pledged to accelerate the transition of qualified teachers from contract to permanent employment and make postings and promotions fairer, in a move aimed at addressing career challenges in Eswatini’s education sector.
The Ministry of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, says Government is committed to accelerating the transition of qualified teachers from contract to permanent employment and making teacher postings and promotions fairer and more transparent, while delivering remarks during the 2026 World Teachers’ Day celebrations at Metropolitan Church in Manzini on October 8, 2026.
He acknowledged the frustration of newly qualified teachers who had waited too long for employment, saying Government recognised the need for fairer recruitment and deployment processes.
“To our newly qualified teachers, many of whom have waited too long for a post: we hear you. Your frustration is legitimate,” he said.
Nxumalo said Government would continue moving qualified teachers into permanent posts and use the Teacher Profile Management System to make deployment and promotion fairer and more transparent.
“A nation that trains teachers and then leaves them idle wastes both its money and its talent,” he said.
He called on the Teaching Service Commission and the Ministry of Public Service to expedite reforms concerning teacher contracts, deployment and promotion, stressing that educators should not have to wait years for decisions affecting their careers.
The Minister acknowledged that many teachers continued to work in overcrowded classrooms with insufficient textbooks and equipment, challenges that could affect the delivery of quality education.
He said Government was committed to investing in teachers through expanded in-service training, with a focus on digital skills, artificial intelligence, inclusive education and foundational learning.
Nxumalo also pledged to consult teachers and their organisations before introducing major education reforms. He said Government would work with partners to strengthen psychosocial support for educators and create more leadership opportunities for women and young teachers.
He called on parents and communities to support schools by teaching children to respect teachers, welcoming educators posted to their areas and helping them access safe accommodation.
“Education must be a partnership between home, school, Government and society. It must become a national project,” he said.
The Minister urged teacher organisations to maintain constructive dialogue with Government and appealed to development partners and the private sector to continue investing in teachers and schools.
Nxumalo said the future of Eswatini depended significantly on what happened in classrooms, where teachers prepared children to contribute to national development.
“The future of Eswatini will not be built only in Parliament, nor only in boardrooms or government offices. It is being built, every single day, in our classrooms,” he said.
The commitments outlined during the celebrations place teacher employment, fair career progression and professional development among the priorities Government intends to pursue to strengthen education standards across the Kingdom.
