BY THEMBA ZWANE
MBABANE – Government, through the Ministry of Public Service, has granted a waiver to employ 220 teaching staff at the Ministry of Education and Training.
According to a memorandum issued by the Ministry of Public Service Principal Secretary (PS) Mthunzi Shabangu addressed to the Ministry of Education and Training PS Naniki Mnisi, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has been granted authority to recruit and fill positions in schools for the academic year 2026 for the Ministry of Education and Training.
“Subsequent to a request to recruit against vacant permanent posts and new creations for conversion within schools, authority is hereby granted to recruit 220 permanent teaching staff,” reads the memo in part.
Meanwhile, in January Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo and the PS, alongside the TSC announced that teachers on contract will be receiving their letters of employment.
Nxumalo said he was pleased that his ministry and the TSC had reached an agreement to renew the teachers’ contracts. However, there had been strong sentiments that the contracts should not be renewed until the civil service rightsizing report had been adopted.
Responding to this, Nxumalo had explained that the report had yet not been submitted to Cabinet, and therefore, teachers on contract were expected to continue providing teaching services to pupils.
Principal Secretary Mnisi had also confirmed that the letters of employment would soon be ready.
She clarified that teachers who would not receive their letters were those advised to upgrade their qualifications to a Postgraduate Certificate (PGC). “We do need the instructor certificate,” she said.
Following the latest salary review, teachers on contract saw their monthly pay increase from around E4 000 to approximately E10 000.
Mnisi added that any teacher on contract who possesses the required qualification should expect to receive his or her letter.
The PS had also noted that the ministry would be processing requests for transfers.
“We are alive to the fact that teachers must be closer to their families,” she said.
Teaching Service Commission Executive Secretary, Nhlanhla Dlamini, said the teachers would collect their letters from the regional education offices (REOs).
He revealed that in some cases, certificates submitted to the TSC for employment purposes were found to be fraudulent, resulting in the employer being unable to renew the affected contracts.
Dlamini said the TSC, as the employer, periodically reviews certificates to verify the authenticity of academic documents.
“We don’t need bogus teachers,” he said.
There are currently 1 286 teachers employed on contract.
Dlamini explained that the duration of these contracts is usually two years, covering teachers at the primary, secondary and high school levels.
When asked about the availability of pension benefits for contracted teachers, he said the matter remained under serious consideration and discussion.
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