MBABANE – The World Bank Mission Acting Resident Representative, Wakhile Mkhonza, has praised His Majesty King Mswati III for his leadership in driving the implementation of the World Bank-funded education project that is transforming Eswatini’s education sector.
Speaking during a media sensitisation workshop held at the Hilton Garden Inn, Mkhonza said the King’s vision played a key role when the bank was still deliberating on funding the project. He explained that His Majesty personally expressed support for the initiative after learning about its potential benefits for the Kingdom.
Mkhonza also commended the Ministry of Education and Training for the project’s strong progress, saying the World Bank is pleased with its implementation. Representatives from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), which co-funds the project with the World Bank, also attended the event.
Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo expressed government’s gratitude to the World Bank and GPE for their continued support, describing the project as proof of what collaboration can achieve. He added that the media play a vital role in linking policy decisions with the public by sharing accurate information about such initiatives.
The education project is supported by a World Bank loan of about E500 million and a GPE grant worth approximately E100 million. It focuses on four main areas: improving Early Childhood Care, Development and Education through new learning materials for 340 Grade 0 classes; strengthening literacy and numeracy for Grades 1 to 3 across 243 primary schools; improving Mathematics and Science education in 126 secondary schools; and promoting the retention of learners by addressing social and economic barriers that contribute to school dropouts.
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