BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
EZULWINI – A new education programme that teaches children empathy, respect and peaceful conflict resolution is being introduced in Eswatini, with hopes of nurturing a generation better equipped to reject violence and build healthy relationships.
The Think Equal Social and Emotional Learning Programme was officially launched by Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo at Happy Valley Hotel on Thursday.The programme seeks to develop children’s social and emotional competencies alongside academic knowledge, with the Ministry of Education and Training describing these skills as essential building blocks for peaceful communities and sustainable national development.
Speaking during the launch, Nxumalo said education should focus on developing the whole child, arguing that academic knowledge alone was insufficient to prepare learners for life.
“Children also need to develop empathy, resilience, self-awareness, self-regulation, critical thinking, and the ability to build positive relationships,” he said.
According to the minister, these skills are fundamental to nurturing responsible citizens capable of contributing to peaceful communities.
He noted that Eswatini had made significant strides in early childhood education, including the introduction of the Grade 0 curriculum earlier this year. However, he said there was still a need to strengthen children’s social and emotional development from an early age.
The minister highlighted challenges associated with violence, social conflict, mental health concerns and the vulnerability of children and young people as reasons for adopting an approach that goes beyond conventional classroom teaching.
“These realities remind us that education must go beyond teaching children what to think; it must help them learn how to understand themselves, respect others, and navigate life’s challenges constructively,” Nxumalo said.
Through storytelling, discussions, reflection and experiential learning, Think Equal teaches children skills such as emotional literacy, cooperation, problem-solving and conflict resolution.
Nxumalo said the programme was particularly relevant to Eswatini because it complemented the country’s cultural heritage, where traditional storytelling has long been used to teach values and pass knowledge between generations.
“For generations, Emaswati children have learned values through Tinganekwane and other traditional forms of storytelling,” he said.
He explained that Think Equal builds on this tradition by using stories to nurture positive values, emotional understanding and critical thinking among young learners.
Meanwhile, Think Equal founder Leslee Udwin described the initiative as more than an ordinary educational programme, saying it represented a revolution in how societies should nurture children.
Udwin, a multi-award-winning British filmmaker and human rights activist, said the initiative was operating in 42 countries worldwide.
Praising the commitment of the Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary Naniki Mnisi, she said Eswatini’s leadership and dedication to the programme stood out among the countries she had engaged with.
“I honestly, it’s extraordinary,” Udwin said, referring to the commitment demonstrated by Mnisi and the ministry.
She said Africa was leading the initiative globally, linking its approach to the African philosophy of buntfu, which emphasises humanity, compassion and the interconnectedness of people.
The programme has already reached thousands of children in Eswatini since implementation began in May 2026.
According to Nxumalo, 509 teachers have been trained across the country’s four regions, while 13 513 children have benefited from the initiative.
The minister said teachers had reported encouraging changes in classroom behaviour, improved emotional awareness among learners, stronger relationships between peers and enhanced conflict-resolution skills.
These early outcomes, he said, gave the government confidence that the programme could make a meaningful contribution to the country’s education system.
However, Nxumalo stressed that the national launch should not be viewed as the end of the process, but rather the beginning of a broader commitment to making social and emotional learning an integral part of education.
He called on development partners, the private sector, civil society, parents and communities to support the programme’s sustainability and expansion.
“Let us commit our expertise, our resources, our advocacy, and our leadership to ensuring that social and emotional learning becomes deeply embedded within our education system and reaches every child in every corner of Eswatini,” he said.
The minister said investing in children’s emotional and social development was essential to building a future characterised by peace, respect, inclusion and prosperity.
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