Thought Leadership

Looking back at the days we were taught parts of a grasshopper and various names of clouds, it is refreshing that Eswatini has taken a curriculum reform approach.

From trying to master the spelling and shapes of a Cumulonimbus cloud to wondering how really knowing a Cirrostratus cloud would shape your future. Respect, though, is given to the curricula of those times because, despite some aspects not being immediately relevant, they produced some of the best leaders who have held their own even on international platforms.

However, things evolve. From 2019, the discussion has gone to Competency Based Education, (CBE), which is an approach to teaching and learning that focuses on what learners can actually do with the knowledge, skills and attitudes they acquire, rather than just how long they spend in class or how well they memorise content.

The previous part on memorising reminds me of a friend who once said: “We study to pass and we will read to understand later.” Interestingly, he became a lecturer in South Africa later on and a department head at one of the largest universities.

The topic of education was the main buzz, this week as the country hosted a curriculum conference. The word curriculum may make it sound like a very complex or technical topic. However, following the proceedings, one of the opening speeches by the Minister for Education, Owen Nxumalo, summed it up like this: ‘By embracing Competency-Based Education, educators become facilitators of mastery, mentors of innovation and builders of inclusive learning environments. Your dedication will shape a generation of problem-solvers, entrepreneurs and responsible citizens, laying the foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and knowledge-driven Eswatini.” That sort of gave me a picture on why from September 24 – 25 2025 hundreds of educators and education stakeholders gathered for the 5^th National Conference on Curriculum (NCC), held at The George Hotel in Manzini.

With the theme ‘Working Towards the Education Global Agenda 2030: Implementing Curriculum Reform in Eswatini’, the conference was not merely a gathering of academics, policymakers and practitioners.

It was a call to action, an invitation to reimagine education as the country’s strongest weapon in the fight against unemployment and a cornerstone of building a resilient economy.

Having been a part of the organisers in the 2014 edition of the conference, I marvelled at how it had grown and even now had a live feed on social media, taking the conversation beyond the four walls of the conference venue.

Since Eswatini adopted CBE as a national curriculum development policy, the country has been navigating the complex terrain of reform. The NCC provided the ideal platform to reflect on these efforts, identify challenges and chart a way forward. Its objectives were ambitious yet urgent: to align education with the UN Global Agenda 2030, ensure inclusivity and create a curriculum that equips learners with the critical skills of the 21^st century.

Education is no longer just about knowledge transmission; it is about shaping adaptable, innovative citizens. In a country where youth unemployment remains stubbornly high, curriculum reform is not optional. It is central to empowering young people to create opportunities, drive entrepreneurship and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s economic transformation.

The conference, supported by the European Union and partners, opened with powerful interventions that set the tone.

The Minister for Education and Training, Honourable Owen Nxumalo, emphasised that education is ‘the very heartbeat of our national vision.’

The European Union’s Head of Cooperation Eva-Maria Engdahl shared on EU interventions in education and the push for TVET. “This programme is the flagship of the European Union and we have placed a clear and deliberate emphasis on skills and employment, with the aim of modernising the TVET system, developing labour market-relevant skills and fostering the creation of meaningful job opportunities for young people,” she shared. This reaffirmed EU’s commitment to supporting education reforms in the kingdom.

Dr Phil Mnisi, Governor of the Central Bank of Eswatini, is a gifted orator and even this time left nothing behind as he spoke on ‘Implementing Curriculum Reform: Aligning Education with a Prosperous Future.’ He shared that empowering learners with skills in saving, budgeting and responsible borrowing is not just educational, it is a national economic strategy. By embedding financial literacy, Eswatini can build a culture of informed citizens who are capable of driving inclusive growth.

The keynote address by Andreas Schott, Senior Education and Training Advisor, offered comparative insights from across the southern African region and beyond. His message was titled: Best Practices and Lessons Learnt on CBE at Secondary School Level from the southern African region and other countries.”

By examining models he demonstrated how integrating technical skills with academic pathways can prepare learners for both work and further education. Schott, who usually remarks about topics shared on this Eswatini News column, has served Eswatini and the world with excellence over the years in the education sector. His address was educational, insightful and shared a very clear vision for the present and future to be applied for success in curriculum reform. Such lessons are invaluable for Eswatini. As the nation reforms its curriculum, it can draw inspiration from systems that have successfully blended vocational, technical and academic education into coherent frameworks, ensuring that no learner is left behind.

The conference also tackled inclusivity, reminding participants that reform must serve all learners. Sessions on curriculum differentiation for inclusive education, challenges in overcrowded classrooms and strategies for integrating life skills highlighted that achieving equity is as important as ensuring quality.

Without deliberate strategies to include marginalised groups, education risks reinforcing rather than reducing inequality.

Throughout the conference, one message emerged consistently: education is not a cost; it is the most important investment a nation can make. For Eswatini, the dividends of this investment will be seen in reduced unemployment, greater innovation, stronger institutions and a more diversified economy.

CBE is central to this vision. By focusing on what learners can do with their knowledge, rather than what they can memorise, CBE nurtures problem-solvers, entrepreneurs, and adaptable citizens. These are the very qualities that will allow Eswatini to thrive in the knowledge economy.

The 5^th National Curriculum Conference was more than an academic gathering. It was a blueprint for the future. Its deliberations showed that Eswatini recognises the inextricable link between education, employability and economic development.

We have come a long way from the parts of a grasshopper, but those parts also taught us that it is the sum of parts that make a whole.

Each part is essential to the functioning of the whole and the strides taken in education over the years have blended us into this wonderful reform we see today.

The topic of education was the main buzz, this week as the country hosted a curriculum conference. (Pic: Brittanica)