In Eswatini, Education International (EI) and its member organisation, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), are amplifying their call for systemic reforms in public education.
Despite a climate of harassment and intimidation, teachers united to launch the Go Public! Fund Education campaign, focusing on strategies to secure greater investment in teachers and public education, even in the face of state interference.The event, held in Manzini on November 24-25, unfolded against the backdrop of legal and political pressure on SNAT’s President, Mbongwa Dlamini. Despite a recent court ruling in Dlamini's favor regarding reinstatement to his teaching post, the government not only appealed the decision but issued a summons for his arrest during the workshop itself.
Commenting on the situation, EI President Mugwena Maluleke stated: “The use of intimidation and harassment to threaten union leaders and educators is utterly unacceptable. Justice systems must unwaveringly uphold the rule of law and ensure fairness for all citizens, rather than being misused as instruments of oppression. This injustice cannot and will not stand.”
Go Public: Courageously defending public education
Undeterred, SNAT’s national and district leaders pressed forward, crafting a roadmap for the Go Public! campaign. Drawing on the recommendations from the UN High-Level Panel on the Teaching Profession, discussions highlighted critical areas, including:
- Fair and competitive salaries: Recommendation 8 underscores the need for governments to treat long-term investment in teachers as a cornerstone of sustainable education systems through competitive pay.
- Support for rural teachers: Recommendation 11 advocates bonuses and incentives for educators in rural and remote areas, ensuring experienced teachers are encouraged to serve these underserved communities.
- Improved working conditions: Recommendation 37 emphasises safe and healthy workplaces, balanced workloads, affordable housing, and manageable teacher-student ratios.
- The SNAT leaders also addressed the increasing casualisation of the teaching workforce, highlighting the relevance of Recommendation 19, which calls for phasing out contract teachers and ensuring proper training and qualifications for all educators.
- Acknowledging the harmful role of International Financial Institutions (IFI’s) in perpetuating wage constraints and austerity measures, SNAT identified Recommendation 55 as vital. This recommendation urges IFI’s, such as the International Monetary Fund, to end policies that undermine teacher recruitment, retention, and wages, while urging for debt relief measures to bolster education financing.
Solidarity and action
Despite the challenges, SNAT President expressed gratitude for EI’s unwavering solidarity, stating: “Solidarity allows us to remain strong in the face of ongoing challenges. We are committed to ensuring that through our Go Public! Fund Education campaign, we can maximize pressure on the government to achieve quality public education for all.”
At the conclusion of the event, EI joined SNAT leaders in a delegation to the Minister of Education to protest the harassment of SNAT’s President and reaffirm their commitment to quality education as a public good.
The Go Public! Fund Education campaign in Eswatini represents a courageous stand against intimidation, a call for systemic change, and a step toward securing the right to education for all.