Free primary school education got off to a rocky start in Swaziland in January (2010), five years after a new constitution mandated that the government foot the bill for the first few years of a child’s education.
The opening week was characterised by a lack of teachers, overcrowded classrooms and confusion about the payment of school fees. ‘To say this week’s schools opening was a disaster would be an understatement,’ an independent newspaper, The Times of Swaziland, said in an editorial, noting that the warning signs of unpreparedness had been apparent for months.
Prime Minister [Barnabas] Sibusiso Dlamini acknowledged “teething problems”, and said efforts were underway to build more classrooms, provide learning materials and boost staff levels. “Newly recruited teachers may not reach the number we need, but we are already in the process of recruiting more,” he said.
Swaziland’s High Court recently dismissed a case brought by the National Ex-Miners Workers Union, which sought court action to speed up broad government implementation of free primary school education. Justice Bheki Maphalala ruled that while the constitution required free primary education, it did not set down a timetable.
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