BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) is calling for urgent structural and operational reforms to ensure quality education and effective management of public schools in the Kingdom of Eswatini.
The Commission, mandated to oversee teacher recruitment, appointments, promotions, transfers, discipline, retirements, and welfare, has released its quarterly activity report, which highlights key milestones as well as pressing challenges.
Notable Appointments and Movements
The TSC reported a wide range of human resource movements during the quarter under review:
- Appointments:
- 2 headteachers appointed for secondary/high schools
- 8 deputy headteachers appointed for primary schools
- 17 deputy headteachers appointed for secondary/high schools
- 17 teachers confirmed in service
- 24 teachers given temporary employment (primary level)
- Transfers:
- 81 general transfers
- 34 right-sizing transfers
- 6 administrative transfers
- Exits:
- 2 resignations
- 35 compulsory retirements
- 1 medical retirement
- 9 early retirements
- 2 deferred retirements
- 12 deaths recorded
- Disciplinary matters:
- 2 dismissals
- 8 cases still on the roll
- 5 cases pending ruling
Additionally, the Ministry of Public Service granted authority to fill 344 teaching posts, a development welcomed by the Commission.
Systemic Challenges Hampering Progress
Despite these achievements, the Commission continues to face major obstacles that directly impact school operations and service delivery:
- Delayed authority to recruit teachers leads to prolonged vacancies that undermine learning outcomes.
- Lack of new posts, especially in growing schools and new subjects like ICT and technical education, creates staffing gaps, often filled with temporary contract teachers—a practice the Commission warns may become unsustainable.
- Inadequate office space affects the efficient handling of confidential teacher matters, especially in the Human Resources and Legal departments.
- Staffing constraints at the TSC Secretariat and the freezing of decentralization under Circular No.3 of 2018 limits the Commission’s regional service delivery.
- Teacher turnover is on the rise, largely due to harsh living conditions in rural schools and competition from better-paying opportunities.
Recommendations Going Forward
In its report, the TSC made the following strategic recommendations:
- Fill all vacant positions according to actual school needs.
- Introduce new posts gradually each year to support curriculum reforms and school expansion.
- Allocate posts and resources to decentralize the TSC to regions for better service delivery.
- Secure additional office space to protect the integrity and privacy of sensitive HR and legal files.
- Improve rural school infrastructure through partnerships with government and the private sector—providing water, electricity, roads, and decent accommodation for teachers.
A Call for Collective Action
The Teaching Service Commission has reiterated its commitment to improving the welfare of educators and strengthening the quality of public education. However, it emphasized that these goals can only be met through collaboration between ministries, policymakers, and stakeholders.
As the education sector continues to evolve with new curriculum needs and growing school populations, the Commission remains a key driver of stability and progress in Eswatini’s educational landscape.
