BY MFANUFIKILE KHATHWANE
MANZINI – The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has expressed its deep gratitude to the Ministry of Education and Training for granting permission for all teachers to attend this year’s World Teachers’ Day commemoration, held at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre on Friday, 24 October 2025.
The landmark event drew more than 10 000 teachers from across Eswatini, in what was widely regarded as one of the largest and most successful celebrations of the teaching profession in the country’s history. The gathering honoured the tireless efforts of educators and underscored their central role in shaping the nation’s future.
SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini warmly thanked the Ministry for its cooperation, noting that such permission had not always been easy to secure in previous years.
“What makes us as teachers happy is that, over the past few years, it was difficult to get permission to celebrate this day,” Dlamini said. “But thanks to the Ministry of Education and Training, all teachers are now free to attend and truly appreciate the importance of our profession.”
He went on to highlight the vital role that teachers play in national development, emphasising that no profession can exist without the foundation provided by educators.
“There is no profession that can function without the help of teachers,” Dlamini stated. “If you treat teachers well, you create a happy nation. If not, you are building an angry nation.”
The 2025 commemoration also marked SNAT’s 97th anniversary, a proud milestone for the organisation founded in 1928. Dlamini reflected on the union’s long-standing achievements, including its historic fight for gender equality in pay and ongoing efforts to improve working conditions for teachers.
He expressed hope that government support for the annual event would increase in the future, similar to practices in other countries.
“We hope the government will also see the need to support this event financially. For now, SNAT funds it through membership contributions, but we are grateful to businesses that have joined us in this effort,” he said, citing Pick n Pay’s contribution of E300 000 this year.
The SNAT President also used the occasion to showcase the union’s modernisation initiatives, such as a new medical scheme, legal aid services, and a digitalisation programme that will allow teachers to access union services from their mobile phones.
“We are working to digitalise SNAT so all members can raise concerns from the comfort of their homes,” Dlamini added. “We encourage the Ministry to adopt similar tools in schools so teachers and students can embrace a modern, digital learning environment.”
In response, Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo assured the gathering that the government remains committed to addressing teachers’ welfare concerns. He said that reports on the Competency-Based Education (CBE) system being piloted in primary schools would be reviewed before the programme is extended to secondary schools.
“SNAT’s concerns are important, and we are committed to resolving them,” the Minister affirmed.
As the celebrations drew to a close, Dlamini reflected on the overwhelming turnout, saying it demonstrated teachers’ appreciation for government recognition and their unwavering pride in their profession.
“This day is to encourage and thank teachers, for they are the ones who lead development. Today, we celebrate our profession and reaffirm our commitment to shaping the future of Eswatini,” he concluded.
