Swaziland’s schools are in
crisis because of lack of funds and teachers, the kingdom’s Minister of
Education and Training Phineas Magagula said.
About E33 million (US2.6
million) is needed to fund 169 extra teachers who are needed now that Christianity
has become a compulsory subject for all public schools in Swaziland, the Swazi Observer reported on Thursday (4
January 2018).
There are not enough
teachers in Swaziland to teach Christianity. The newspaper reported Magagula
saying they had identified 169 present teachers who majored in religious
studies and history who could teach the Christian Education Syllabus. He did
not say if they had been consulted on a possible move. It was not reported who
would replace the teachers in their present posts if they did transfer.
The new policy that only Christianity
and no other religion could be taught in schools was announced in January 2017.
Previously, the Religious Education syllabus included Christianity, Islam,
Baha’i faith and Swazi ancestors. The decision reportedly came from the Swazi
Cabinet, which is handpicked by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last
absolute monarch. There was no consultation with schools.
The move was controversial.
Teaching only Christianity could be against the spirit, if not
the letter, of the Swazi
Constitution. When the 2005 Constitution was being drafted, it was decided
not to insist that Swaziland was a Christian country. This was to encourage
freedom of religion.
In January 2017, Lawyers
for Human Rights spokesperson Sabelo Masuku said although Swaziland was
predominantly Christian, the Government had to consider the Swazi Constitution
which made it clear there was freedom of religious choice.
Nkosingiphile Myeni,
Communications Officer of The Coordinating Assembly of Non-Governmental
Organisations (CANGO) in Swaziland, a network of NGOs, ecumenical bodies and
other faith-based organisations, said at the time, ‘Firstly, government must
not forget that in 2005, Swaziland entered a new era of constitutionalism. In
Section 23 of the Constitution, liberties including human rights, freedom of
conscience and religion are entrenched. The inclusion of all other religions
must be in line with this constitutional provision to cater for all sectors of
society.’
The Swaziland National
Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Freedom Dlamini criticised the way the
new syllabus was introduced. In a statement he said, ‘Our education system was
immediately thrown back into the dark ages, not that we had ever got out.’
Dlamini added, ‘We don't
want to create religious fundamentalists from our future generation, a
predicament that some nations are finding themselves in today.’
Dlamini said in some
schools, especially at secondary level, pupils had to drop one subject to
comply with this order and contrary to the promise by the ministry that schools
were going to have more teachers, most schools had no teachers posted.
According to the CIA World factbook
religion in Swaziland is broken down as Zionist (a blend of Christianity and
indigenous ancestral worship) 40 percent, Roman Catholic 20 percent, Muslim 10
percent, other (includes Anglican, Bahai, Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30
percent.
See also
SCHOOLS RELIGIOUS TEACHING SHAKE-UP
RELIGION
BAN IN SCHOOLS: PROTESTS GROW
ALL MUST PAY FOR CHRISTIAN LESSONS
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