By Kwanele Dhladhla
Motshane Member of Parliament Wilton Nkambule has canvassed for investment of one per cent of monies collected by Eswatini Service (ERS) on Value Added Tax (VAT) to be invested towards funding free secondary education in the kingdom.
Nkambule made this submission during debate of the ministry of education and training budget debate in the House of Assembly on Monday.
The MP, with a strong business acumen who has in the past worked closely with the ministry as director of Print Design which supplied educational material for free primary education, said funding secondary education from proceeds of VAT would assist the country in meeting Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).
RELATED: King meets Ethiopia President, praises history preservation
The goal was a commitment to provide quality education to all people, regardless of their circumstances by 2030.
The goal aims to ensure access to safe, inclusive, and equitable education while promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
It also seeks to reduce disparities in education and increase the number of people with relevant skills for employment.
Nkambule argued that instead of the ministry calling upon all principals not to turn back pupils regardless of whether they have paid fees or not, government ought to reserve a per cent of the funds collected through VAT to fund secondary education.
“One per cent of VAT revenue would go a long way in financing free secondary education,” Nkambule submitted.
He made an example of the ministry of public of works which responded to the outcry by members of the public on dilapidated roads through promulgation of the roads authority act which derives revenue from the sale of fuel to fix the country’s roads.
The government of Eswatini has made a substantial financial commitment to education, with the 2025/26 budget reaching an all-time high of E5.41 billion, marking a cumulative increase of E1.41 billion from the E4 billion allocated in 2020/21.
RELATED: A Bridge to the Future: How Technology Can Elevate Landlocked Countries Like Eswatini
This represents a 35.2% increase over six years, which reflects the government’s dedication to improving access to quality education, expanding school infrastructure, and addressing key concerns in higher education.
SDG 4 remains important because education can break the cycle of poverty, reduce inequality, and promote sustainable development. It also helps people lead empowered lives and promote tolerance and peace.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has reported that while there has been some progress, the pace of change was slow and uneven. For example, UNESCO said the COVID-19 pandemic widened the gap in access to education, particularly for children from lower income households.
It was recommended that to achieve SDG 4, there was a need to ensure that schools were safe and clean, provide enough teachers and ensure that every student has books, computers, and supplies while at the same time promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
UNESCO also emphasized the provision of quality education for vulnerable populations.