Madam,

I am compelled to express my deep concern about the crippling and severe teacher shortage in schools across the country, a crisis that threatens to undermine the very fabric of our society. As a concerned citizen, I echo the urgent pleas of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and education experts, who warn that the status quo is untenable. SNAT’s recent call for the government to employ at least 4 000 teachers on permanent posts and pay teachers according to regional standards, seem to have fallen on deaf ears once again, just like it has always been the case in the past.

The facts are stark. Eswatini faces a shortage of teachers. Teachers are overwhelmed with high numbers in classrooms. Recently, it was reported that one school in Manzini has 92 learners in Grade II, with one educator responsible for the packed like sardines learners in the classroom. Throngs of qualified educators across the country are paid stipends of between E1 000 to E1 300 per month by parents to try and salvage the dire shortage of teachers in schools, where they (educators) volunteer their services.

This is not merely a numbers issue; it is a ticking time bomb that jeopardises the future of our children and the nation. Section 29 of the Constitution of Eswatini guarantees the right to education, yet this fundamental right is being callously disregarded due to the government’s inaction. The SNAT has repeatedly highlighted the exodus of qualified teachers to neighbouring and overseas countries, in search of greener pastures and many teachers abandoning the profession. This brain drain deprives our schools of experienced educators and discourages aspiring teachers from pursuing a career in education. The ripple effects are devastating: Overcrowded classrooms, demotivated pupils and a generation at risk of being left behind. Rural schools bear the brunt, struggling with poor infrastructure and limited resources.

Government’s reliance on contract teachers, employed on precarious terms, exacerbates the crisis. Many are underpaid, earning a pittance that hardly covers their daily commute. Is it any wonder that morale is low and talent is fleeing? The SNAT’s 2023/2024 budget submission highlighted the need for a comprehensive teacher retention strategy, but government has failed to act.

For so many years, the teacher’s union has been pleading with government to prioritise teacher recruitment and retention, citing the alarming rate of teacher attrition. The association’s Secretary General, Lot Vilakati, has so many times emphasised the need for a salary structure that reflects qualifications and regional norms. It is time for our leaders to listen. Paying contract teachers low salaries is not only unjust; it is a recipe for disaster. Many countries across the SADC region pay teachers a decent salary, enough to live, not just survive; Eswatini must do the same. Government’s inaction is a betrayal of our children’s future.

The solution is straightforward: Hire qualified teachers, make contract teachers permanent and pay them according to regional standards. It is time to recognise the value of our educators and invest in their professional growth. Government must act decisively to address this crisis. Urgent measures are needed, recruit 4 000 contract teachers on permanent posts, establish a clear roadmap for contract teachers’ regularisation and implement a salary structure that reflects qualifications and regional norms.

Anything less is a betrayal of our children’s future.

If our government is serious about the future of this country, investing in education is non-negotiable. Our leaders must prioritise teachers, schools and the next generation. The world is watching; it is time for Eswatini to act. I implore government to treat this crisis with the urgency it deserves, engaging meaningfully with the SNAT and stakeholders to chart a way forward. Our children’s future hangs in the balance.

The facts are stark. Eswatini faces a shortage of teachers. Teachers are overwhelmed with high numbers in classrooms.