Education Ministry gets waiver for 55 vacancies

MBABANE – After almost a decade of vacant administrative positions, the Ministry of Education and Training has received a waiver for 55 posts.

These are posts to fill the vacant administrative positions in respect of head teachers, deputy head teachers and heads of department (HODs).

The waiver for recruitment at the ministry was granted by the Ministry of Public Service through a memorandum issued by Principal Secretary Mthunzi Shabangu last month.

These are vacancies that were caused by early retirement, compulsory retirement and administrative transfers of head teachers.

The waiver for the 55 posts will see the hiring of 13 head teachers from schools that the ministry has already identified, 11 secondary school deputy head teachers, 17 primary school deputy head teachers, 10 HODs that are yet to be recommended by the office of the PS, two lecturers for In-service Department and two lecturers for Emlalatini Development Centre.

Other vacancies to be filled include that of Lubombo regional education officer (REO) and senior inspector Adult Education.

The latter will help enhance and observe quality and make awareness in rural education centres. These are centres established in 1976 to expand adult education and provide opportunities for rural communities, offering vocational training in areas like sewing, carpentry and farming to improve livelihoods. 

“Reference is made to your memorandum dated August 22, 2025, requesting authority to fill vacant administrative positions for both high and primary schools, you are hereby informed that authority is granted to recruit against vacant positions caused by compulsory retirement, early retirement and administrative transfers of head teachers in the months August-October 2025,” reads the memo.

Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training Nanikie Mnisi, confirmed the memo, stating that this development comes as a huge relief for them as they have, for multiple years, been short on human resources in these respective positions.

Full article available in our publication.