Madam,
Passion drives dedicated educators into classrooms everyday, but passion alone cannot pay bills, put food on the table or support a family. As we reflect on the state of the teaching profession in Eswatini, it is important to remember that teachers need more than recognition and appreciation. They need fair salaries, job security and working conditions that allow them to perform their duties with dignity.
I read with interest the recent report in the Times of Eswatini in which Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo pledged that government would continue moving qualified teachers from temporary to permanent employment. According to the report, 130 primary school teachers and 113 secondary school teachers had been made permanent this year. This is a welcome development because job security provides stability, pension benefits and peace of mind.
However, we must ask what happens to those who remain on temporary contracts. These educators also prepare lessons, teach learners, mark books and contribute to the future of this country. Their employment status should not make their contribution less valuable. If they carry workloads comparable to those of permanently employed teachers, the question of fair remuneration deserves serious attention.
Government has acknowledged that teachers face several challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, inadequate learning materials, delayed promotions and financial pressures. These challenges affect the very people expected to deliver quality education.
It is, therefore, encouraging that the ministry recognises the need to improve teachers’ welfare, but the real test will be how quickly these commitments translate into meaningful change.
Another important issue is the proposed incentive system for teachers serving in remote schools. Director of Education Dr Tholakele Mngomezulu revealed that government was developing incentives for educators accepting hardship postings, alongside improvements in staff housing, access to water and safety. This is a necessary step, considering that 72 per cent of the country’s more than 16 400 teachers serve in rural areas.
Teachers cannot be expected to remain in difficult postings indefinitely when basic necessities are lacking. Rural learners deserve the same quality of education as their counterparts in urban areas and retaining teachers is essential to achieving this.
Incentives must, therefore, move beyond proposals and become practical interventions that make rural postings manageable and attractive. Career progression also needs attention.
Teachers who upgrade their qualifications should have opportunities to advance professionally and earn better salaries without necessarily abandoning classroom teaching for administrative positions. Such a system would reward experience, encourage professional development and help retain skilled educators. While government has allocated E6.4 billion to education in the 2026/27 national budget, representing 16.7 per cent of total government expenditure, investment must also be reflected in the welfare of teachers.
Ultimately, education cannot improve while those responsible for delivering it remain insecure, financially strained or overlooked. Government must ensure that its promises translate into fair treatment, better working conditions and real opportunities for every teacher.
Teachers shape the nation’s future. They deserve more than speeches on National Teachers’ Day. They deserve action throughout the year.
A concerned citizen
