Education

HEREFORDS – Government, through the Ministry of Education and Training, has allocated approximately E30 million for the rehabilitation of eight schools in northern Hhohho that were damaged by a storm in December 2025.

This was revealed by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Nanikie Mnisi, who was accompanied by officials from Microprojects at Herefords High on Monday. The announcement introduced about 25 contractors tasked with rehabilitating the damaged schools, which include Herefords High and Mkhuzweni Primary.

The storm hit the northern region on December 2, 2025. Accompanied by hailstones and strong winds, it uprooted trees, blew away the roofing of several homesteads and schools and resulted in power outages. Damaged infrastructure included roads, schools and clinics, such as the Mkhuzweni Health Centre, where 10 admitted patients were left exposed after the facility’s roof was blown off. Additionally, the entrances to Buhleni Town were blocked by fallen trees.

Notably, in December last year, the Deputy Prime Minister, Thulisile Dladla, visited and delivered rehabilitation building materials to 19 households across three constituencies: Mhlangatane, Mayiwane, and Ndzingeni. She mentioned that government is doing its best to appoint contractors to the damaged schools to rehabilitate them as soon as possible before schools reopen, avoiding a situation where pupils are left stranded.

Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA) Chief Executive Officer, Victor Mahlalela, says government needs approximately E76 million to respond to the aftermath of the devastating storm.

During the handover of the contractors, the principal secretary said the storm affected the ministry immensely, at a time when they are implementing education reforms, specifically the Competency-Based Education (CBE). She urged emaSwati to embrace the CBE, noting that some fear the change.

Mnisi stated that the school is very old and was built with outdated materials. She noted that Microprojects needs to ensure the school is now rehabilitated with materials able to withstand the recurring storms being experienced in the country. She announced that admissions at the school will be paused for now and the commencement of lessons will be delayed while the school is being rehabilitated.

However, she challenged the Regional Education Office (REO) to monitor the progress to avoid long delays that could affect pupils’ lessons. Mnisi specified that eight schools were damaged by the storm—six primary schools and two high schools. Mnisi said the allocated money would be used for the rehabilitation of 27 classrooms and 15 teachers’ houses.

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One of the classrooms that was destroyed by the storm at Herefords High. (Pic: Mnelisi Dlamini)