Eswatini has achieved an impressive literacy rate of around 90 per cent, driven by initiatives such as Free Primary Education and OVC grants, Ministry of Education and Training Principal Secretary Nanikie Mnisi has said.
Mnisi made the remarks at Millennium Park in Manzini, where she joined partners and stakeholders to mark the 60th global commemoration of International Literacy Day.
While International Literacy Day is globally observed on September 8, Eswatini dedicates the entire month to engaging practitioners, policymakers and the public. 
The goal is to build a more literate, peaceful, just and sustainable community for all Emaswati.
Speaking at the commemoration, Mnisi said the 90 per cent literacy rate marks significant progress for the country.
She said the gains are linked to sustained government investment in access to education, including Free Primary Education which has enabled thousands of children to enter and remain in school and the Orphans and Vulnerable Children grants which support vulnerable learners.
Despite the national gains, Mnisi said critical challenges remain. She said globally, over 739 million youth and adults still lack basic literacy skills, a reminder that literacy remains an unfinished agenda worldwide.
Locally, she said the 2022 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) highlights gaps in early grade reading and mathematics among lower primary learners. “The survey shows that we still have work to do at foundation level,” she said.
The PS said the ministry continues to intervene to bridge these learning gaps through targeted solutions.
These include rolling out Grade 0 across all primary schools to ensure children enter formal schooling with school readiness skills and supporting Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments through World Bank and Global Partnership for Education funded projects.
The interventions, she said, are aimed at identifying learning gaps early and providing support before learners progress to higher grades.
Mnisi said literacy is more than the ability to read and write. It is a foundation for learning, for employment, for participation in society and for building a just and sustainable nation.
She said this year’s commemoration, which marks 60 years since the first International Literacy Day, is an opportunity to reflect on progress and to renew commitment to reaching those still left behind.
“Our goal is clear, to build a more literate, peaceful, just and sustainable community for all Emaswati,” she said.
She said that while the 90 per cent rate is encouraging, the government is concerned about learners who struggle to read with comprehension and to do basic mathematics in the early grades.
According to Mnisi, weak foundation skills affect performance across all subjects and increase the risk of repetition and dropout.
She said the rollout of Grade 0 is expected to improve school readiness, especially for children from disadvantaged backgrounds who may not have access to private pre-school.
She said the Early Grade Reading and Mathematics Assessments supported by the World Bank and GPE will help teachers measure learning and adjust instruction to meet learners’ needs.
The PS extended gratitude to partners supporting literacy in the country. She thanked the Sebenta National Institute, UNESCO National Commission, the Manzini Regional Administrator, local media and all development partners for their commitment to formal, non-formal and continuing education.
Sebenta, which provides non-formal literacy programmes for youth and adults, was singled out for its role in reaching those outside the formal school system.
Mnisi said collaboration between government, development partners, civil society and communities remains critical. “Together, we can ensure no child or adult is left behind,” she said.
The commemoration at Millennium Park brought together education officials, teachers, learners, literacy practitioners and partners to highlight literacy initiatives and share experiences.
Eswatini’s approach of dedicating the whole month of September to literacy activities allows for broader engagement, including dialogues with practitioners and policymakers, community outreach and awareness campaigns.
Mnisi said improving early grade reading and mathematics is key to maintaining quality as access has expanded.
She said literacy must be strengthened at all levels – from early childhood, through primary and secondary education, to adult and continuing education.
“Literacy is the foundation for all learning. If we get it right in the early grades, we secure the future of our children and our nation,” she said.
