Africa-Press – Eswatini. His Majesty King Mswati III has rekindled the dream of transforming Ngwane Teachers Training College into a university.
Speaking yesterday during a graduation ceremony held at the tertiary institution’s premises in Nhlangano, the King said he anticipates that government would keep the promise it made where it pledged that the Shiselweni region would soon have its first university.
“We do recall that it was here a few years ago when the government made a commitment to the people of Shiselweni, that this institution would be expanded and modernised to become the region’s first university.
The nation applauded the decision and we eagerly anticipate achieving this objective,” the King said.
His Mjesty the King officiated the combined graduates 2021 and 2022 graduation where 570 took home their diplomas in teaching at the pre and primary school levels.
As if they were aware that the king would bring the subject up, some of the graduates interviewed before the King’s speech, including Thembelihle Mamba, who passed with a distinction in her Primary Teachers Diploma in Applied Sciences, said the anticipated conversion was long overdue.
The king said there were discussions that were ongoing between the leadership of Ngwane Teachers Training College and the University of Eswatini (UNESWA), adding that at the preliminary meetings the government also urged the lecturers of the college to further their education in order for the college to meet the criteria for university status.
Dream
The king said the country as the rest of the world battled against the COVID-19 pandemic which stalled many things.
“We will return to that dream as it were for it to materialise,” the king said.
His Majesty the king also said it was encouraging to know that the lecturers were in an ongoing effort to upgrade themselves academically most successfully juggling their professional responsibilities with their academic pursuits.
The graduation ceremony was last held three years ago and was halted because of COVID-19.
Nevertheless, the king said he wished well for the blended classes of 2021 with 355 teachers and the 215 graduates of 2022 making the 570 where 411 hold primary teacher diplomas, and 159 being early childhood care education diplomas holders.
‘‘The late evenings and early mornings were well worth it.
We are now sending you out into the world to experience life on your own for the first time.
But rest assured that there are plenty of veteran educators working in the sector who may serve as your mentors and resources.
Make use of them.
Graduation is the result of persistent effort and dedication. To all who have finished their coursework, we say congratulations! Your hard work has paid off.
Your profession awaits you,” His Majesty King Mswati III said.
The king went on to emphatically talk about the importance of professionalism and service for the yet growing next generation, urging the graduates to always uphold honesty, respect and integrity.
“To succeed in this task, never lose sight of the fact that honesty, respect, and integrity are the essential qualities that will sustain your journey. You need to set a good example for the students you will be teaching so they can look up to you,” he said.
The king said the education system has a gross enrolment ratio for primary education of 104 per cent and a literacy rate of 87 per cent amongst young adults aged 15 and above.”We anticipate that your input will increase these numbers by producing future citizens with the capacity to strengthen the nation’s economy with the skills they have learned in your classrooms,” the king said.
The king also said in keeping up with the modern developments, teachers should be eager to grow, improve, and maintain the quality of education in their country.
He said ever since the country gained Independence in 1968, government had been relentless in its pursuit of quality education for all citizens.
He added that in keeping up with this trend, recently, a number of primary, secondary, and higher education facilities have been constructed with the goal of increasing both access to and the quality of education in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 4.
Parents’ duty is to
educate children – king
His Majesty King Mswati III has urged parents to uphold their duty to ensure their children get the desired education and not only to their offspring but all the children in the country.
“To the parents, always remember that you are the guardians of all the children in this country. It goes without saying that parents have the primary duty of bringing up their children in conformity with socially acceptable norms and values.
Anyone deserving of the name ‘parent’ takes an active role in their children’s education by providing, helping them grow into responsible adults, and making sure they have a safe place to call home.
It is the duty of parents to instill in their children the values of decency, self-discipline, and respect,” the king said.
His Majesty said responsibility was best taught by example.
He added that gratitude goes to all of the parents in this country for their contributions to the development of future leaders.
Active
“Parents who take an active role in their children’s education do their part to improve it.
In closing, we would like to express our sincerest wishes for success to each and every one of the graduates.
Now is your chance to step into the spotlight and make a name for yourselves by doing something truly remarkable that will be remembered for generations to come.
As they say, graduation is not the end, but only the beginning,” the king concluded.
Ngwane College an affiliate of UNESWA
The Ngwane Teachers Training College is already an affiliate of the University of Eswatini (UNESWA).
This was disclosed by the Ngwane Teacher Training College Principal Celiwe Khumalo in unison with the UNESWA Vice Chancellor Justice Thwala as they presented the 570 graduates to His Majesty King Mswati III.
This comes after the college was marked as an affiliate of UNESWA whereby the Board of Affiliated Institutions moderates the colleges.
According to Khumalo, Ngwane College has already started the processes required by Eswatini Higher Education Council (ESHEC) to comply.
“To have this regulator ensures best quality practices in the institution. Quality is what the country needs to achieve the Education Sustainable Development Goals by 2030,” she said.
Diploma
Khumalo and Thwala went on and conferred the Diploma in Early Childhood Care Education and the Primary Teachers Diploma, with majors in agriculture and and Home Economics, Languages, Maths and Science as well as Social Studies.
“Wena Waphakathi, it is my greatest moment to greet all who are here in this gathering today.
This is our 37th graduation ceremony where two cohorts are graduating.
For three years we could not hold graduations due to the pandemic COVID-19 and its effects thereafter,” Khumalo said.
This graduation for the two cohorts of 2021 and 2022 marks a huge achievement for them in life and professionally, said Khumalo.
“The college is proud to have taught you the skills, knowledge and the relevant pedagogy during the process of teaching and learning.
It is of paramount note to know that once you are educated, your life changes.
Go out to the world and display your competence, your conduct as professionals and your extra-ordinary performance,” she said.
Appreciation
Khumalo said the college conveys sincere appreciation for the scholarship awarded to students in the duration of their training with the institution applauding them for making it possible.
“Your Majesty, the ministry of education is appreciated for filling up lecturer vacancies for the institution.
We would not have gone to this far without them,” she said.
Khumalo also appreciated the community for taking the institution as part of them.
“Regarding the transformation of the college to the status of the university.
The process is still ongoing.
The challenges faced were the lack of funding in terms of human resource development.
structures used currently was to be used while processes of securing funds to improve the structures and other equipment were to be solicited,” she said.
For More News And Analysis About Eswatini Follow Africa-Press
