Teachers' perspectives on the effects of free primary education policy of the Kingdom of Eswatini on education quality in public schools: 2010-2017

Abstract

This study offers an analysis of the perspectives and experiences of teachers from the Kingdom of Eswatini (previously known as Swaziland) in relation to the effects of the Free Primary Education (FPE) policy on the quality of education in public schools. The Ka-Bhudla Primary School was selected as a case study through purposive sampling because of its location. Qualitative research methods, with a focus on the case study, were employed to obtain the opinions of the school principal and teachers regarding the main research question: ‘What effects did the implementation of the FPE policy have on the quality of education?’ Semi-structured interviews were held with one school principal and eight primary school teachers. A comprehensive literature review and a document analysis were also undertaken. The findings revealed the emergence of adverse consequences following the implementation of the FPE policy in the Kingdom of Eswatini. The quality of education at the Ka-Bhudla Primary School declined drastically as a result of increased learner enrolments and a lack of support from the Eswatini government. Inadequate learning aids, a shortage of school furniture, the absence of infrastructure and a lack of teacher recruitment were also among the reasons cited for the negative consequences of the implementation of the FPE policy. It was concluded that the quality of education can be restored and maintained at the Ka-Bhudla Primary School by successfully addressing the various inadequacies.

Lolu cwaningo lunikeza uhlaziyo lwemiqondo kanye nezinto ezihlangabezene nothisha abavela ezweni laseKingdom of Eswatini (ebikade yaziwa njengeSwaziland) mayelana nemithelela yomgomo Wohlelo Lwemfundo Lwasimahla eMabangeni Aphansi (Free Primary Education (FPE) ngokwezinga lemfundo ezikoleni zombuso.. Isikole iKa-Bhudla Primary School sakhethwa njengesibonelo ngokusebenzisa uhlelo lwesampuli enenhloso purposive sampling ngenxa yendawo lapho isikole sitholakala khona.. Indlela yocwaningo (Qualitative research methods), eyencike kwizinga lengxoxo egxile kwisibonelo, yasetshenziswa ukuze kutholakale imibono yothishanhloko kanye nothisha besikole mayelana nombuzo obalulekile wocwaningo Ngabe mithelela mini edalwe ukusetshenziswa komgomo weFPE phezu kwezinga lemfundo? ‘What effects did the implementation of the FPE policy have on the quality of education?’ Kuye kwabanjwa izinhlolovo ezimbaxambili nothishanhloko wesikole kanye nothisha abayisishiyagalombili besikole samabanga aphansi.. Uhlelo lokubuyekezwa kombhalo wobuciko olubanzi (comprehensive literature review) luye lwenziwa kanti ukuhlaziywa kombhalo nakho kuye kwenziwa. Ulwazi olutholakele lukhombise ukuqhamuka kwemiphumela engagculisi mayelana nokusetshenziswa komgomo we-FPE kumbuso i-Kingdom of Eswatini. Izinga lemfundo kwisikole iKa-Bhudla Primary School liye lehla kakhulu njengomphumela wenani elikhulayo labafundi ababhalisayo kanye nokusweleka koxhaso oluvela kumbuso waseSwatini. Izinsizakufunda ezinganele, ukwentuleka kwefenisha yesikole, ukusweleka kwengqalasizinda kanye nkosweleka kohlelo lokuheha othisha kube ngezinye zezizathu ezidala ezidalulwe njengemithelela emibi yokusetshenziswa komgomo we-FPE. Kuye kwaphethwa ngokuthi izinga lemfundo lingabuyiswa kabusha futhi ligcinwe likhona esikoleni iKa-Bhudla Primary School ngokuxazulula izingqinamba ezahlukahlukene ezingagculisi.

Esi sifundo sihlalutya iimbono namava eetitshala zaseSwatini (ekwakukade kusithiwa kuseSwazini) malunga neziqhamo zomgaqo nkqubo wemfundo yasimahla yamabanga asezantsi, iFree Primary Education (FPE) kwizikolo zikawonkewonke. Kuye kwakhethwa isikolo samabanga asezantsi, iKa-Bhudla saba yisampulu ekhethwe ngenxa yendawo esime kuyo. Kusetyenziswe iindlela zophando ngokuzathuza, kwagxininiswa kwisifundo esingumzekelo kusenzelwa ukufumana izimvo zenqununu nootitshala malunga nombuzo wophando ongundoqo, othi: ‘Ube naziphumo zini umgaqo nkqubo iFPE kumgangantho wemfundo?’ Kwenziwe udliwano ndlebe olungaqingqwanga ncam nenqununu yesikolo enye nootitshala bamabanga asezantsi abasibhozo. Kubuye kwenziwa uphononongo nohlalutyo olunzulu lwemibhalo emalunga nalo mba. Okufunyanisiweyo kudulise ukuntshula kweziphumo ezingalunganga emva kokusetyenziswa komgaqo nkqubo iFPE eSwatini. Umgangatho wemfundo kwisikolo samabanga asezantsi iKa-Bhudla uhle ngamandla ngenxa yokwanda kwamanani abafundi nokunqongophala kwenkxaso karhulumente waseSwatini. Izixhobo zokufundisa ezinganelanga, ukunqongophala kwefenitshala yesikolo, ukungabikho kwezibonelelo nokungarhwebeshwa kootitshala kubekwe njengezinye izizathu zeziphumo ezibi zeFPE. Kugqitywe kwelokuba umgangatho wemfundo ungabuyiselwa, ugcinwe ngempumelelo kwisikolo samabanga asezantsi iKa-Bhudla xa kunokulungiswa ezi meko ziqhwalelayo.