BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Ministry of Labour and Social Security spent a total of E21 958 443.51 on student scholarships during the first quarter of the 2025/2026 financial year, covering the period April to June 2025.
This figure represents just a fraction of the Ministry’s total annual scholarship budget of E702 048 794.00, leaving a remaining balance of E680 090 350.49 to support over 13 500 students across various tertiary institutions for the rest of the academic year.
The funds were used to cover a wide range of student needs, including tuition, accommodation, meals, books, uniforms, project allowances, and internships, among others.
Tuition Gets the Largest Share
Of the total amount spent, tuition-related payments topped the list with E13 172 868.51 going toward tuition fees, registration, foreign levy payments, and interest charges for students studying outside Eswatini.
Breakdown of other key expenses includes:
- Internship allowance – E3 284 800.00
- Accommodation – E2 112 000.00
- Meals – E1 213 000.00
- Books – E637 000.00
- Field allowance – E665 500.00
- Student air ticket fees – E493 200.00
- Uniforms – E130 740.00
No expenditure was recorded under examination fees during the quarter.
Student Allowances Paid According to Institutional Calendars
The Ministry also noted that student living allowances continued to be paid to students in certain tertiary institutions, although not all students received theirs during the quarter. This discrepancy is due to the irregular academic calendars now in place at local institutions, a result of disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, political unrest in 2021, and other recent interruptions.
Each tertiary institution now follows its own academic calendar, meaning the Ministry schedules payments based on when each institution is in session.
“As a matter of policy, the Ministry pays student allowances over a ten-month academic year, even if an institution’s calendar exceeds that period,” the report clarified.
Looking Forward
With over E680 million still available in the scholarship budget, the Ministry remains committed to supporting eligible students throughout the academic year. However, it emphasized the importance of institutional cooperation in aligning academic schedules to ensure smoother planning and disbursement of allowances.
(Courtesy Pic)
