Manzini– A E451.3 million World Bank-funded programme is using technology to tackle poor mathematics and science performance in rural secondary schools, with 126 schools and about 400 teachers already brought into the initiative.
The four-year intervention, which started in 2023 and is expected to run until 2027, is being implemented by the Ministry of Education and Training with financial support from the World Bank.
The programme is funded through a US$27.35 million World Bank loan, equivalent to approximately E451.275 million.
Communications Specialist for the Ministry of Education and Training’s World Bank Project, Muzi Yende, said the intervention was aimed at improving the teaching and learning of mathematics and science through the integration of technology in secondary schools.
Speaking to this publication, Yende said the project was currently being implemented in 126 schools across the country, with most of the targeted institutions situated in rural communities.
He said the decision to focus largely on rural schools followed findings from a study which revealed that some schools in these communities were performing poorly in mathematics and science.
“The reason for targeting these schools is that we have seen through a study that was conducted that some schools in rural communities were not performing well when it comes to mathematics and science,” said Yende.
He said the poor performance had implications beyond secondary education, as fewer learners from some rural schools were progressing to universities and colleges to pursue mathematics, science and related fields.
The programme began by targeting Grade 8 learners and is expected to progressively support the teaching of mathematics and science using technology.
Yende said schools participating in the programme had been provided with screens to support digital learning, while teachers were being equipped with the skills needed to effectively use the technology in the classroom.
He said about 400 teachers had already been trained under the programme.
“As we speak, we have trained around 400 teachers who are now able to educate learners using the screens that we have provided to the 126 schools across the country,” he said.
The intervention is part of government’s broader efforts to improve learning outcomes in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, commonly known as STEM subjects.
While the programme currently covers 126 schools, Yende said the Minister of Education and Training had expressed a desire to eventually expand the intervention to all secondary schools in the country.
This would significantly widen the programme’s reach, considering that Eswatini has more than 300 secondary schools.
The proposed expansion is particularly expected to benefit schools experiencing disparities in access to and use of technology.
Yende said the ultimate objective was to ensure that learners, regardless of where they attended school, had access to modern teaching methods capable of improving their understanding and performance in mathematics and science.
For government, improving performance in mathematics and science is increasingly viewed as critical to preparing young people for an economy that is becoming more dependent on technology, innovation and technical skills.
The World Bank-funded programme is therefore expected to play a role not only in improving classroom outcomes, but also in addressing disparities between rural and urban schools and expanding the pool of young emaSwati capable of pursuing careers in science, technology and other technical professions.
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