Eswatini urged to tackle school dropout
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Times of Eswatini
Illustrative image · Tosin Olowoleni · Pexels · Licence PexelsAn assessment of Eswatini’s education strategic plan calls for action on school dropout, poor mathematics and science results and insufficient funding for vulnerable learners. The review also recommends strengthening technical and vocational training, according to findings presented by the Education Ministry.
Eswatini’s Ministry of Education and Training must tackle school dropout, poor results in mathematics and science, insufficient funding for vulnerable learners and weaknesses in technical and vocational education. These difficulties are among the findings of the first joint review of the 2022–2030 Education Sector Strategic Plan, the Times of Eswatini reports.
The review found a 15.2% repetition rate in secondary education and an approximately 61% increase in secondary school dropout over two years. Dropouts and repetitions are particularly concerning in the fifth and sixth years of primary school and the second and fourth years of secondary school.
Participants attributed these difficulties to the cost of schooling beyond tuition fees, learner pregnancies, hunger and unmet psychosocial needs. Public assistance covered between 30% and 69% of the actual cost of schooling, leaving the balance to families. Some schools also requested deposits of between 30% and 90% in January, according to findings presented by Zwakele Dlamini, the ministry’s deputy secretary.
