Mbabane – The Ministry of Education and Training closed the IF Class training programme, a five-month initiative that was designed to strengthen the capacity of French teachers across Eswatini.
The ceremony was held at the Alliance Française de Mbabane, attended by school principals, regional inspectors, French teachers, and representatives from the French Embassy.
Speaking during the event, it was highlighted that Eswatini is the first African country to implement the IF Classe model, which provides teachers with advanced linguistic, methodological and pedagogical training.
Officials noted that the programme directly supports national priorities, including the Education Sector Strategic Plan (2022–2034), the Government’s Plan of Action (2024–2029), and Sustainable Development Goal 4 on quality education.
The ministry officials say the teachers who participated in the programme improved their mastery of the French language, adopted modern teaching strategies, and gained confidence to deliver competency-based lessons. The programme was described as a key step in boosting learner engagement and performance, while also preparing students for opportunities in tourism, diplomacy, international studies and global business.
Teachers were praised for committing their time and energy throughout the training. The ministry encouraged them to apply the skills gained in their classrooms and continue driving improvements in learning outcomes. School principals were also thanked for supporting their staff during the course.
The event further highlighted other ongoing collaborations between the Ministry and the French government. These include the FSPI project (2021–2024), which provided E2.8 million to strengthen tertiary institutions and the Inspectorate; the Language Assistant programme, which has placed four Emaswati teachers in France and will run until 2029; and the new KEP project starting in January 2026, through which forty teachers will receive additional training.
The ministry said the completion of the IF Class programme comes at a critical time, as Eswatini prepares to introduce the four-year secondary school programme and Competency-Based Education (CBE) in 2026. Officials stressed that the dedication shown by teachers throughout the training reflects the level of commitment needed as curriculum reforms roll out.
Discussion about this post