A total of 1 516 girls left school due to pregnancy in Eswatini between 2023 and 2025. This has raised concerns about learner protection and retention in the country's education system. The figures were presented by Acting Director of Guidance Londiwe Ngci Dube during the 2026 Education Joint Sector Review (JSR) Indaba. Pregnancy was the leading recorded reason for school dropout.
The number of primary school girls who left school due to pregnancy increased from 88 in 2023 to 180 in 2025, representing a 105 per cent rise. At secondary school level, the figure increased from 964 to 1 336 over the same period, a 39 per cent increase. These figures are counts rather than dropout rates, and the presentation cautioned that some of the increase could be attributed to improved reporting.
The presentation also highlighted an increase in cases of violence reported by schools to the Ministry of Education and Training's Educational Testing, Guidance and Psychological Services (ETGPS). Reported cases rose from 45 in 2023 to 204 in 2024–2025. Emotional abuse emerged as the largest reported category, increasing from one case in 2023 to 93 in 2024–2025.
Despite the growing challenges facing learners, no full-time guidance and counselling posts have been created in schools. This is despite a commitment dating back to the 2011 Education and Training Sector Policy. The policy called for dedicated guidance teachers, counselling rooms in schools, reduced subject loads for guidance teachers, and guidance resource centres.
Only 180 of the country's 7 538 primary school teachers have been trained to deliver life skills education, representing 2.4 per cent. Meanwhile, 258 of 291 secondary school heads, or 88.7 per cent, have received orientation on violence prevention and positive discipline. A total of 139 schools have been trained on Care and Support for Teaching and Learning (CSTL).
Limited staffing, inadequate financing, insufficient training at primary school level, and weaknesses in case management are major obstacles to effective guidance and counselling services. Without dedicated staff, guidance and life skills education are often delivered alongside teachers' other responsibilities, potentially limiting the time available to identify vulnerable learners and provide support.
The presentation referred to the 2025 Global School-based Student Health Survey, which found that 28.3 per cent of learners had ever had sex. E-cigarette use was another concern, with 20.7 per cent of boys and 13.2 per cent of girls reporting use in the preceding 30 days. Emotional abuse has become a significant psychosocial support concern, underlining the need for counselling services.
Key points
- 1 516 girls dropped out of school due to pregnancy in Eswatini between 2023 and 2025.
- The number of reported violence cases in schools increased from 45 in 2023 to 204 in 2024–2025.
- No full-time guidance and counselling posts have been created in schools despite a commitment dating back to 2011.
