BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MBABANE – The Kingdom of Eswatini has strengthened its drive to improve the quality of education by reaffirming its commitment to ensuring every child acquires strong foundational reading, writing and numeracy skills during the 3rd Africa Foundational Learning Exchange (FLEX2026) held in Lilongwe, Malawi.
Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo represented Eswatini at the continental summit, which brought together Education Ministers, senior government officials, development partners and education experts from across Africa to develop practical strategies for improving learning outcomes and tackling learning poverty.
Hosted by the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) in partnership with the Government of Malawi, the summit was held under the theme, “From Commitments to Results: Delivering Foundational Learning at Scale.” The meeting focused on turning policy commitments into measurable improvements in classrooms across the continent.
The conference also provided African countries with an opportunity to exchange successful education reforms, share innovative teaching approaches and strengthen regional cooperation as governments work towards ending learning poverty by 2035.
Delivering Eswatini’s national statement, Minister Nxumalo said Government remains firmly committed to providing equitable, inclusive and quality education that gives every learner an opportunity to succeed.
He noted that strong foundational learning is the cornerstone of lifelong education, economic growth and sustainable national development, adding that countries cannot build competitive economies without investing in the education of their children.
The Minister highlighted that, under the leadership of His Majesty King Mswati III, Eswatini continues to implement far-reaching education reforms designed to improve learner achievement and prepare young people for the demands of the modern economy.
Among the initiatives already being rolled out are the Competency-Based Education Curriculum, the internationally recognised Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) programme, enhanced teacher professional development, digital learning initiatives and continued investment in creating safe and high-quality learning environments.
Nxumalo said these reforms are aimed at ensuring learners develop critical thinking, problem-solving and practical skills that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to the country’s socio-economic transformation.
He further stressed that achieving lasting improvements in education requires stronger collaboration among governments, development partners, educators and communities.
The Minister called for evidence-based policymaking, greater accountability and sustained investment in education, saying Africa’s future depends on transforming commitments made today into tangible learning outcomes for future generations.
Eswatini’s participation at FLEX2026 underscores Government’s commitment to working alongside fellow African nations and international partners to strengthen education systems and ensure every child acquires the knowledge, skills and values needed to thrive in an increasingly competitive global environment.
The country’s participation also aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 4, which seeks to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education while promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all.
As Africa intensifies efforts to improve foundational learning, Eswatini says it remains determined to play its part in building an education system that empowers learners, supports national development and unlocks the full potential of future generations.
