09/09/2025

Under the Economic Justice Campaign, Cde Simphiwe Dlamini delivered a presentation outlining the CPS perspective on the right to education. In his address, he highlighted how the Mswati regime continues to undermine the right to education to maintain its autocratic rule.

Education is a fundamental pillar of society that has historically driven change and progress. However, the people of Swaziland have been systematically deprived of this right, which in turn negatively impacts their economic rights, as education and economic empowerment are deeply interconnected.

The poor quality of education in Swaziland is not accidental but a deliberate strategy to keep the population backward and ensure the regime’s continued dominance. One clear example is the exclusion of a large portion of the population from accessing education. When tracing student progression from primary to tertiary levels, it becomes evident that many are excluded along the way.

This exclusion is primarily due to the high cost of education, which restricts access to only those who can afford it. The meager budget allocated by Mswati’s government further reduces the quality of education, with schools struggling to operate due to shortages of essential resources such as stationery, food, teachers, and proper infrastructure. Meanwhile, the ruling elite send their children to expensive private schools, excluding the working class from meaningful educational opportunities. The stark disparity between rural and urban education further illustrates this inequality.

The curriculum itself plays a crucial role in shaping society’s mindset. Currently, the curriculum is designed to perpetuate monarchial rule rather than empower students to transform society. Those who decide what is taught are not the teachers, students, or educational stakeholders but rather the oppressors responsible for maintaining the status quo. Teachers are merely instructed to deliver the prescribed content without questioning whether it fosters genuine transformation.

From the CPS perspective, education must serve the people—especially the working class—not the regime. Education should be a tool for societal transformation, accessible to all, free, and aligned with universal standards of development. Students must unite and fight for their right to education through organizations such as the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) and the Swaziland Association of Students (SAS), to dismantle the current oppressive system once and for all.

The CPS advocates for a curriculum that responds to the real needs of the people. In today’s rapidly changing world, integrating technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education is essential. Moreover, the curriculum should reflect the true history of the people of Swaziland—not just the history of the Dlamini dynasty, which is currently emphasized to legitimize the regime and brainwash the population.

There must also be a strong link between education and production. Students are workers in transition and should acquire relevant skills and knowledge to improve productivity. Enhancing production is key to breaking the cycle of poverty. Education should not only transform learners and teachers but also society as a whole.

The youth must take a leading role in fighting for a better future. History shows the vital role youth and students played in the 2021 unrest in Swaziland and many other global revolutions. It is crucial that young people remain organized across various sectors to challenge the tinkhundla system and build a more just society. Additionally, the youth and students must elevate their consciousness through a scientific approach rather than idealism.

Youth organizing should extend beyond national borders, linking with progressive youth organizations worldwide to share common struggles against capitalism.

A better future guarantees education for all—education that transforms societies and meets the aspirations of the working class. The only way to achieve this is by overthrowing Mswati’s government and building a society that truly serves its people.

CPS Press

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