E20m FPE loss: Some repeat unnecessarily
MBABANE – With government losing approximately E20 million annually on free primary education (FPE) repeaters, it has been discovered that some pupils repeat classes unnecessarily.
This is according to findings of inspections that were conducted in primary schools in the country.
In 2010, government introduced the FPE programme, which is government funded. The FPE requires government to pay school fees, supply textbooks, stationery as well as the schools feeding schemes in all over 600 primary schools in the country. Government pays E570 annually per child under the FPE.
A report was presented to senators, analysing the strengthening of basic education (including Early Childhood Care, Development and Education (ECCDE) systems to support human capital development in Eswatini. The report reveals that more than 30 000 pupils repeat grades each year, resulting in the loss of an equivalent of E20 million. According to the ministry, some come into the system lacking in developmental milestones and lack appropriate exposure. This wastage was first realised after a seven-year period, from 2013 to 2019; however, thereafter it is an annual cost with the different cohorts.
Over a period of seven years, government has lost over E140 million on primary schools’ failures. As a result, the ministry is seeking finance of about E470 million (US$27.5 million) from the World Bank to implement ECCDE programmes, which are designed to address the holistic developmental needs of children from conception to eight years of age.
According to the ministry’s Education Management Information Systems, this project will help curb the high number of repeaters, especially at primary level, which was digging deep into government’s coffers. The same funding could then be channelled to other priority areas.
While government is busy with the loan from the World Bank, inspectors have since discovered glaring gaps in the education sector and what transpired on the ground that has led to government losing money.
Inspections that were conducted by the Primary Schools Education inspectors indicated that some pupils were repeating classes unnecessarily in some schools, putting more financial burden to government.
According to the report’s findings that were incorporated in the Ministry of Education and Training’s annual report, the inspectors conducted inspections in 85 primary schools in the country.
What was observed in most schools was that more pupils were made to repeat grades unnecessarily.
According to the National Education Policy, schools should not have more than five per cent repeaters. However, according to the findings by the inspectors, there is an obvious failure by some schools to adhere to the five per cent repetition policy.
“This has seen a number of pupils repeating classes unnecessarily,” stated the findings.
Other observations of the inspections listed as contribution factors were the absence of child centred teaching methods. The inspectors suggested that government should introduce in-service training for teachers on child centres’ teaching method. Other findings were dilapidated structures and financial challenges that were preventing schools from carrying out teaching smoothly due to inadequate education supplies.