Times Of Swaziland: GOVT TO EXPLORE OTHER MEANS FOR FPE FUNDING GOVT TO EXPLORE OTHER MEANS FOR FPE FUNDING ================================================================================ BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 15/05/2019 00:32:00 MBABANE – Government is considering exploring other means of funding free primary education. This is contained in the Eswatini Strategic Road map under priority focus number five, which is the Social Safety Net. The Cabinet stated that to improve administration, coverage and to target core social protection programmes, there needed to be some actions to be taken. The Social Safety Net focus will be spearheaded by the office of the Deputy Prime Minister and supported by the ministries of Health, Education and Training and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy. In its medium-term focus, the policy is to revisit the education funding framework and its effectiveness. The expected outcome, according to the strategic road map, is a reduced fiscal burden. This, according to government, would be achieved by exploring other means of funding, including a revolving education fund from primary up until tertiary level. Currently, the government or taxpayers foot the bill for FPE while government funds some tertiary students who qualify for a scholarship. Another target under the Social Safety Net is that of improving quality of life for underprivileged emaSwati. This would be through the streamlining of social grants through census, improved access through mobile or EFT payments and increased social grants. Another government policy in the pipeline is the review of the National Health Care System, fees and fine with the expected outcome being the reduced fiscal burden. Government plans to introduce a National Health Insurance Fund system in light of pending legislation. Meanwhile, most governments do not find fault within themselves, however, the Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini-led Cabinet has admitted to several weaknesses which hinder the country’s progress. One of the main weaknesses highlighted by government in the Strategic Road Map 2019 – 2023 was the lack of implementation on key national priorities. In it’s SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) analysis, the government further stated that it was weak or limited in tracking progress on implementation and outcomes. The PM, when presenting the Road Map at the Royal Swazi Convention Centre, also stated that the lack of policy coherence was also hampering implementation. He said there were also disjointed programmes hampering implementation and that the lack of commitment and decision making was also stalling progress. Dlamini said there were areas of improvement which needed to be addressed as the country repositions itself for growth and these were under human capital and diversity. He said there was a need or an opportunity to conduct a skills audit to determine human capital development needs, including the need to identify skills requirements in areas that would drive job creation outside government.