Soon, There May Be No Off-Campus Students — Minister Raises Alarm on Student Suicides
By Thokozani Mazibuko
The Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, has sounded an urgent alarm on the mental health crisis gripping tertiary students in Eswatini.
Speaking during a recent tour of the Southern African University, Nxumalo emphasized that off-campus accommodation is increasingly linked to social challenges, including a worrying rise in student suicides.
“In our experience, students cannot fully manage the pressures of life independently outside campus,” the Minister said. “Some have tragically resorted to taking their own lives because they couldn’t cope.”
Nxumalo called on all tertiary institutions to ensure that students live in on-campus housing, highlighting it as a critical responsibility for safeguarding learners’ wellbeing.
While universities such as the University of Eswatini, William Pitcher College, and Southern African University provide accommodation on campus, large numbers of students remain scattered in rental housing across urban centres.
The government supplements students’ expenses through allowances, part of which is intended for rent. But Nxumalo points out that financial support alone does not shield learners from the isolation, lack of supervision, and risk factors associated with off-campus living.
“When we studied, we lived on campus and benefited from peer support, mentorship, and structured activities that helped protect mental health,” he reflected.
This call to action comes amid growing concerns over student suicides and stress-related breakdowns nationally. Data from the World Health Organization and Royal Eswatini Police Service reveal Eswatini ranks among the highest globally for suicide rates, with hundreds of suicide-related cases reported by health facilities between 2021 and 2025, overwhelmingly among men aged 25 and above.
A recent regional study highlights that students in higher education, already facing financial hardships, academic stress, and social isolation, are particularly vulnerable to suicidal behaviours.
Education leaders stress the importance of diving deep into not only mental health services and counselling resources but also structural factors like safe housing, financial security, and mentorship programs.
Students interviewed for this report, who preferred anonymity, welcomed the Minister’s proposal as a potentially life-saving initiative but cautioned that significant investment will be needed to expand campus accommodation to meet growing demand.
The Ministry of Education is actively consulting with tertiary institutions on strategies to improve student housing and bolster mental health support systems.
Given the clear link between living conditions and mental well-being, the proposed move toward exclusive on-campus housing aims to create safer, more supportive environments, where collaboration, guidance, and community nurture resilience among young adults navigating a critical life phase.
With mental health crises among youth reaching alarming levels, this intervention could be a vital step in not only preventing suicides but also in fostering holistic student success.
