BUDGET FALLS SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS ON FPE

MBABANE – The budget allocation towards the education sector was received with mixed emotions by the various stakeholders.

Of note is that the education sector received a total of E5 billion, which represents 17 per cent of the total budget. Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) President Welcome Mhlanga stated that they appreciated the one per cent increase in the education budget from 16 per cent to 17 per cent. He said their wish would have been to have a higher percentage. Mhlanga said they would have liked another increase in the Free Primary Education (FPE) grant after the 20 per cent in 2023/2024 budget. He further mentioned that the E194 million for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) Fund was meant to cater for an increase, as it has not been adjusted since its inception around 2005.  “While the purpose of the fund is noble, the non-increase has a negative effect on school operations and quality education delivery,” he said.

Mhlanga added that more capital budget towards improving the quality of school infrastructure to cater for inclusive education was needed. The president said they were hoping that with the challenges associated with top -up fees, government would revamp the infrastructure in schools as some were in poor conditions. On the conversion of temporary teachers to being permanent and pensionable, Mhlanga said they were pleased as it would stabilise the teaching service and motivate teachers to apply themselves. He reiterated the need for government to release funds timeously to enable the ministry to deliver on its mandate, adding that having a budget was one thing but executing it is another.

Meanwhile, SWADNU also punched holes in the budget. “We are not happy with this budget as it will not bring about any significant change in the health sector.” The above statement was made by the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU) when reacting to the budget allocation announced by the Minister of Finance, Neal Rijkenberg, yesterday. SWADNU Secretary General (SG) Mayibongwe Masangane said the allocated budget of E3 billion was meant to maintain the status quo, yet in this case, there was a lot to be done, hence it was insufficient. Masangane stated that the difference in the budget increase was not significant enough to address the current challenges which were facing the health sector.

According to the SG, the budget was as if government was not acknowledging the prevailing healthcare crisis that required a lot of funding relief to get the situation back to normal or even better. He said the budget gave the impression that the health situation in the country would remain the same and would not improve. The SG stated that they were hopeful that the challenge of drug shortages would be managed through the controls which government would be putting in place, if properly monitored they could bring about change.

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