By Ncaba Ntshakala
In what will come as nothing as a sweet melody to the ears of several emaSwati, Orphaned and Vulnerable Children will benefit from the over E605 million World Bank and Global Partnership for Education – GPE -funded education programme.
This great news was delivered by Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla at the Mavuso Trade and Exhibition Centre through her representative, Principal Secretary Melusi Masuku.
This was during the launch of the multimillion-dollar project on Thursday. The World Bank will pump in about E514.6 million (US$27 million) and it will be supplemented by E90.5 million (US$4.75 million) from GPE to strengthen the country’s early childhood development and basic education systems and support human development capital in the Kingdom.
The multi-million dollar funded project is themed Themed “Yatfutfuka Imfundvo Yakitsi, Lachakaza Likusasa Lemaswati” (meaning “Eswatini education developing, a bright future for emaSwati. Other dignitaries present during the launch were Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo and World Bank Country Representative Ikechi Okorie.
The DPM welcomed the inclusion of the OVC education programme within the larger World Bank-funded project. “It is worth noting that the launch of this project takes place only a few weeks after the start of the current school calendar year,” said the DPM, adding that this signifies the immediate impact this initiative will have on vulnerable children in our education system.
ALSO READ: Lushaba pledges health, education transformation at Hhukwini
The DPM further acknowledged the “thorny issue” of OVC education for her office and the government as a whole. The inclusion of the programme within the broader project, according to the DPM, demonstrates the government’s commitment to addressing this critical challenge.
“We are grateful to the World Bank and the Ministry of Education for recognizing the importance of supporting OVCs in their educational pursuits,” the DPM said. She said this programme represents a significant step forward in ensuring that all children in Eswatini have access to quality education and the opportunity to reach their full potential.
“This initiative aligns seamlessly with Eswatini’s national development priorities, specifically the National Strategic Development Plan (2018/19-2022/23) and the new Education Strategic Sector Plan (2022-2034).
These plans emphasize improving learning outcomes, increasing access to and completion of education, strengthening teacher development and management, and building resilience within the education sector.
The project’s core objectives focus on establishing critical building blocks for enhanced service delivery in early childhood development, foundational learning, and secondary education. This holistic approach aims to better prepare children and youth for the future, equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive.
Beyond direct service delivery, the project also prioritizes strengthening the management of the education sector. This includes implementing improved data collection, analysis, and dissemination practices. By fostering a culture of accountability for results, the project aims to ensure the efficient and effective utilization of resources.
ALSO READ: Eswatini on par with EU countries on free education and healthcare
Making his remarks, the Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo applauded the World Bank and expressed that he is greatly honoured to be in the presence of all key partners in the common goal of “Education for All”.
He added that the Ministry and the Government of Eswatini are committed to ensuring that ‘no child is left behind’ and they will ensure that all children access and complete their education, especially their basic education. The Minster further expressed components of the project:
The World Bank project components as presented by the Minister of Education;
Component 1 Early Childhood Care and Development (ECD): Led by Dr. D. Hlophe and Nokukhanya Dlamini, this component focuses on supporting Grade 0 classes in rural primary schools. It aims to provide additional learning materials and teacher training to improve the quality of education and reduce dropout rates in lower primary grades. This ensures children, especially in rural areas, enter primary school with a strong foundation in ECD.
Component 2 Improving Literacy and Numeracy in Early Grades:
Coordinated by Vusi Simelane, this component targets Grades 1 to 3. It seeks to enhance literacy and numeracy skills through in-service teacher training in new teaching methodologies and ongoing assessments to monitor and support student development. The initial phase will be implemented in 246 rural public primary schools across all regions.
Component 3 Enhancing Science and Math Instruction in Secondary Education:
Managed by Mgcibelo Tsela in collaboration with senior science and math inspectors, this component aims to improve the quality of science and math instruction in secondary schools.
The project will introduce the Progressive Science Initiative (PSI) and Progressive Mathematics Initiative (PMI) in 20 schools initially, eventually expanding to 126 public secondary schools. These initiatives involve providing schools with equipment like printers, computers, microscopes, and projectors, along with teacher training to improve delivery and effectiveness.
Component 4 Boosting Retention in Secondary Education:
Coordinated by Nokuthula Dlamini and Fezile Khumalo, this component focuses on 62 secondary schools, a subset of those involved in the science and math initiative. The project will also collaborate with an NGO to establish youth clubs in these schools.
These clubs will provide support and guidance to students on various topics approved by the National Curriculum Centre, aiming to encourage them to stay in school.
This sub-component will work with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) to assess and potentially improve the existing OVC education grant program to enhance its effectiveness in promoting retention.
The Minister further emphasized that the project adheres to the Ministry’s inclusive education approach, integrating aspects of special needs education into all components from ECD to secondary levels and beyond. He also stressed the importance of viewing the project as a springboard for sustained improvement, urging officials to ensure its activities continue beyond the initial implementation phase.
World Bank Representative emphasizes collaboration for the success of the project
The World Bank Country Representative Ikechi Okorie highlighted the importance of collaboration during the launch of a new project aimed at strengthening early childhood development and basic education systems in Eswatini.
While acknowledging the project’s significance, the representative stressed that “this is only the beginning of a challenging and hopefully exciting journey!”
The representative emphasized that successful implementation is crucial for the project’s long-term impact. He called for “stronger institutional collaboration and coordination amongst all stakeholders.
