Description

UNICEF's Shantha Bloemen reports from Swaziland on free education for primary school children.

Transcript

Free Primary School Programs in Swaziland Shantha Bloemen: Thulani Gama is a bit bigger and few years older than most of the other children in this grade II classroom, but just as you get to get the answers right. Miss Simphiwe Simelane, Thulani’s teacher is young and dynamic. She’s aware that it is not easy having older the children in the classroom but also knows they have no future without an education. Simphiwe Simelane: He is the oldest in the class and he is tall. So, he finds it challenging in the morning assembly, he doesn’t stand in the line with the grade IIs. He goes and stand with the Grade IVs. He really is trying. Sometimes when he struggles with something and then you explain it to him, he ends up saying, “Oh, I’ve been stupid, I can’t even see this.” Shantha Bloemen: For the first time this year at the age of 13, Thulani was able to enter primary school and join his younger twin siblings to learn to read and write. Simphiwe Simelane: As a teacher, I have to come prepared. You know that these children, most of them are orphaned. You know that as a teacher, I have to be a mother to these children. You have to take care of these children. You have to forget about your problems when you come to the school. Shantha Bloemen: The introduction of free primary school education for Grade 1 and II at Entfubeni Primary School in rural Swaziland has been welcomed. For many children especially orphan and vulnerable, it is meant a chance of a lifetime. Four out of 10 children don’t complete a full cycle of primary school. Like Thulani, they can not afford for the school fees, the cost of uniforms and often the transport, so they either never start or dropout quickly thereafter. The walk home from school takes Thulani and his siblings close to an hour. When they arrive home, Thulani is in charge of overseeing chores. His father died when his mother was pregnant with the twins. She struggled to find work nearby but finally a year ago left to the city where she now has work as domestic. Swaziland has the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world. The result is that a third of children do not live with either parent and there are many child-headed households. Thulani’s overdue debut in school is the consequence of the Swazi government rolling out free primary school education, starting with Grade’s I and II. Israel Simelane: Because we don’t want to provide just free primary education without quality, we are very cautious that it has to be quality primary education. Shantha Bloemen: The plan is to phase in free education so as not to swamp the system. UNICEF is assisting to improve education quality and to make school centers of care and support for children. Simphiwe Simelane: If Thulani doesn’t finish school, he has no future at all. In Swaziland, you struggle with your degree or diploma. You do not find the job that you're actually trained for. How much more if you don’t have a certificate, primary certificate? So, I’m really happy with the free education, now that he has come back to class and I’m really hoping and praying that he continues. Shantha Bloemen: With caring teachers like Miss. Simelane, Thulani and his sibling’s future is in good hands. This is Shantha Bloemen reporting for UNICEF Television, Unite for Children.