E1.41 billion Education budget increase

By Ncaba Ntshakala

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.

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.

Despite this increase, the share of the national budget allocated to education fluctuated over the years, peaking at 19% in 2023/24 before dropping to 16.6% in the upcoming fiscal year.

In 2020/21, Eswatini allocated E3.5 billion to the education sector, constituting 15.3% of the total national budget.

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This figure slightly decreased in 2021/22, with the allocation remaining at E3.5 billion but now representing 14.5% of the total budget, falling below the international benchmark of 15% of total government expenditure. The following year, in 2022/23, the allocation marginally increased to E3.53 billion.

However, when including other education-related funding such as scholarships and Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) grants, the total reached E4.05 billion, accounting for 16% of the total budget.

The Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, during that year’s budget speech, emphasized the significance of this investment, stating, “If we were to add the OVC grants and scholarships, which also support education and training, this number grows to E4.05 billion, approximately 16.0 percent of the total national budget, putting us in the top 10 percent of education spending in Sub-Saharan Africa.”

A significant leap was observed in the 2023/24 financial year when the government allocated E3.96 billion to the Ministry of Education and Training, marking an increase of E430 million from the previous year.

When combined with E647 million in scholarships, the total education sector budget reached 19% of total government expenditure, surpassing the government’s long-standing commitment to allocate at least 15% of the national budget to education.

This increase aligned with the government’s objectives to strengthen the education sector, improve infrastructure, and ensure financial sustainability for higher education institutions.

In 2024/25, the government maintained a strong investment in education, allocating E3.94 billion in the recurrent budget, E200 million in the capital budget, E194 million in the OVC fund, and E647 million for scholarships.

This brought the total education sector budget to E5 billion, accounting for 17% of total national expenditure. While the percentage allocation was slightly lower than the previous year’s 19%, the total funding represented a crucial step in enhancing the quality of education at all levels.

The latest 2025/26 budget sees another increase, with the education sector now receiving a total of E5.41 billion.

The recurrent budget has been raised to E4.20 billion, while the capital budget has grown to E316 million. The government has also increased funding for school feeding programs by E33 million, bringing the allocation for student nutrition to new levels.

Additionally, E194 million has been designated for the OVC fund, while the scholarships budget has risen to E702.35 million. Despite the overall increase in funding, the percentage share of the total budget stands at 16.6%, marking a decrease from the 17% allocated in the previous year and the 19% recorded in 2023/24.

During the presentation of the budget speech, the Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg highlighted the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible and high-quality education for all emaSwati.

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“The Government of the Kingdom of Eswatini remains steadfast in ensuring that quality education remains accessible to all emaSwati,” he stated.

He further outlined the steps taken to address challenges in teacher employment, noting that 364 teachers who had been on contract for extended periods were recently converted to permanent and pensionable positions.

The budget also highlights major structural changes in the education system, particularly the planned introduction of post-EGCSE qualifications in 2026.

Under the new structure, four out of the seven earmarked secondary schools will begin offering AS and A-Level courses, with one school selected from each region. The identified schools include Mhlume, Mhlatane, Manzini Nazarene, and Evelyn Baring high schools.

The government envisions this transformation as a step toward improving the competitiveness of the country’s education system, responding to growing concerns about graduate employability.

At the 2023 Sibaya gathering, various stakeholders criticized the education system for failing to equip graduates with relevant skills, as evidenced by rising unemployment rates among degree holders.

In response, the government has commissioned a high-level committee of experts to develop a comprehensive transformation strategy for the sector.

“The education transformation will ensure that the education system produces graduates who are skilled to make sustainable livelihoods for themselves and others,” the Minister said.

Moreover, budget speech also addressed ongoing issues at the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), which has faced persistent financial and operational challenges despite increased government subventions in recent years.

The institution continues to struggle with financial mismanagement, non-remittance of medical aid and pension contributions, low research output, and outdated academic programs. These issues have led to frequent class boycotts, disrupting learning and damaging the university’s global reputation.

To address these concerns, the government has commissioned a task team to investigate the crisis and propose long-term solutions.

“The Government will commission a forensic audit whilst also implementing some of the short-term recommendations proposed by the task team interim report,” the Minister confirmed.

Education budget allocation over the past six years: