Eswatini faces a teacher shortage crisis, with many educators teaching outside their specialization, threatening the new skills-based secondary education system.
Teacher specialization mismatch
Eswatini’s education system is facing a challenge where many teachers are not teaching subjects they are qualified for. In some cases, science teachers are teaching outside their field, and many schools lack specialized ICT teachers.New education cycle demands specialized staff
A new four-year secondary education cycle, launched in 2026, focuses on practical learning and continuous assessment. To support this, officials recommend hiring specialized teachers and providing pedagogical support, with a review planned for 2027.Student-teacher ratio exceeds target
The student-teacher ratio in secondary schools is 1:16, which is higher than the government’s target of 1:35. This ratio does not account for the availability of subject specialists in each school.Training plans aim to address gaps
Eswatini’s 2022–2034 educational plan aims to ensure a proper supply of qualified teachers by subject and level. It also proposes strengthening training in mathematics, sciences, and ICT at the higher secondary level to better prepare teachers for their roles.Data system’s effectiveness unclear
While the government claims to have a system for managing school data and personnel, how well it identifies and corrects subject-specific teacher shortages remains uncertain.
