MBABANE – The Ministry of Education and Training has thrown open two new Teachers’ Day award categories to public nomination, giving parents, learners and communities a direct say in recognising schools that support their teachers and the environment around them.
Speaking during a press briefing held at the ministry’s conference room on Friday morning, Principal Secretary (PS) Nanikie Mnisi said the public will be invited to nominate schools under the Healthy Work Environment (Health and Wellness) Award and the Sustainability and Community Building Award, as part of this year’s Teachers’ Day celebrations.
“We are deliberately opening this process to the public because your experience matters,” Mnisi said, addressing members of the media gathered for the briefing.
The announcement builds on the official launch of the 2026 Teachers’ Day celebrations held a few months ago, with Mnisi describing Friday’s briefing as ‘the next important step’ in the process.
This year’s global theme, “Standing with teachers: 60 years of protecting the profession, advancing its status and shaping our futures,” marks six decades of international recognition for the teaching profession.
Two categories, two different tests
The Healthy Work Environment Award will recognise schools creating safe, inclusive and supportive workplaces for teachers and staff, with judges looking for genuine commitment to staff wellbeing, workplace safety, inclusion and practical health initiatives.
Mnisi said the wellbeing of teachers is inseparable from the quality of education learners receive.
The Sustainability and Community Building Award, meanwhile, will recognise schools showing leadership in environmental stewardship and community engagement, through initiatives such as tree planting, waste management, school gardens, climate awareness and partnerships linking learners, educators and families.
According to Mnisi, nomination links open on Monday and runs for a whole week.
Then, the nominated schools will move to an assessment stage, followed by a public voting process for the schools that make it through.
Meanwhile, adjudicators will conduct school visits to assess nominees against set criteria before a final recognition is made.
Mnisi urged the public to nominate schools based on genuine evidence rather than familiarity. “Do not simply nominate a school because it is familiar to you,” she said, calling instead for nominations grounded in real evidence of the values the awards are meant to recognise.
Nomination links and further details will be shared through the ministry’s official communication platforms, with the public encouraged to look out for the announcement and share it widely.
Mnisi also used the briefing to appeal for broader support for this year’s celebrations, saying government cannot deliver a celebration of this scale alone. She invited corporate partners, private-sector organisations, development partners and donor agencies to come on board, whether through sponsoring award categories, prizes, school resources or other elements of the celebrations.
She thanked the ministry’s existing partners and sponsors, naming B-Trac, Eswatini Building Society, the Examinations Council of Eswatini, EMCU, the World Bank, MTN, KZM, Premier and Wonderport, alongside the Teachers’ Day Organising Committee and the ministry’s media partners.
“Every contribution matters. Every gesture of support sends a message to our teachers that their work is seen, valued and appreciated,” Mnisi said.
Closing the briefing, Mnisi called on the nation to take part in the process directly. “Recognise excellence. Celebrate schools that are making a difference,” she said, describing the goal as making Teachers’ Day 2026 a meaningful national celebration of the people who shape the country’s future.
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