Africa-Press – Eswatini. The Ministry of Education and Training, together with the Ministry of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) and UNICEF, held a stakeholders briefing on the Giga Schools Connectivity Initiative at the George Hotel in Manzini.
The meeting on 31 October 2025 together government officials, private sector representatives, and partners from the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to discuss progress and plans to connect all schools in Eswatini to the internet.
Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo said the goal is to ensure that every learner and teacher in the country benefits from digital learning. He said incorporating ICT in teaching and learning is vital for improving the quality of education and preparing learners for the modern world.
The Minister explained that the Giga Initiative will not only bring internet access to schools but will also support other education projects such as the Eswatini Learning Passport, the Education Management Information System (EMIS), ECESWA Systems, and Higher Education digital platforms.
“Only about 45 % of secondary schools have internet connectivity according to the Eswatini Education Sector Strategic Plan (ESSP) 2022–2034, while most primary schools are still not connected,” he said.
Nxumalo revealed that 965 schools have been uploaded on the Giga Maps platform, including 402 that are already connected. However, 87 schools were rejected by the system due to incorrect geolocation, duplicate IDs, and incomplete records. He said corrective work is ongoing to update these records and ensure all schools are properly mapped.
The Minister thanked the Ministry of ICT, UNICEF, and the Eswatini Communications Commission (ESCCOM) for their continued support. He urged all stakeholders to remain active in the project, saying its success depends on collaboration.
UNICEF representatives assured partners that while connecting schools, they will also work to ensure children’s safety online.Stakeholders from across the ICT and private sectors, including ESCCOM, Eswatini Sugar, Jenny Internet, Eswatini Mobile, MTN, EPTC, Real Image, Touch IT, Paratus, and WonderBoard Networks, attended the meeting to explore ways to achieve universal school connectivity.
The Giga Initiative, launched in 2019 by UNICEF and ITU, aims to connect every school in the world to the internet by 2030. Eswatini’s participation marks a strong commitment to digital education and inclusive learning for all children.
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