Dr Ngabisa Dlamini, Headteacher of Vulamasango High School in Eswatini, has recently earned a PhD in Agricultural Educational Research from the University of Eswatini. Her academic achievement adds to her professional experience in managing the institution, which operates under His Majesty's Correctional Services. Vulamasango High School provides education, psychological support, and rehabilitation to young people in correctional settings.
Dr Dlamini's vision for Vulamasango is to expand vocational training, improve learning facilities, and strengthen pathways into higher education and employment. She aims to challenge conventional assumptions about young people in correctional settings and provide them with opportunities beyond institutional care. Her approach combines classroom instruction with interventions from psychologists, social workers, and chaplains.
Vulamasango High School serves incarcerated young people alongside teenagers experiencing behavioural difficulties. The institution's approach involves screening and classification upon admission to establish individual needs before introducing appropriate programs. Dr Dlamini emphasizes that every learner receives support suited to their circumstances and abilities.
The institution has produced encouraging results, with some learners achieving academic success. A former learner is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Engineering in Taiwan. Dr Dlamini believes that young people should not be judged solely by the circumstances that brought them into the institution and that they deserve opportunities for education and rehabilitation.
Despite its ambitions, Vulamasango faces challenges related to infrastructure, digital learning facilities, and specialized teaching materials. Dr Dlamini is appealing for partnerships with government, businesses, and communities to strengthen its programs. Her five-year priority is to expand and modernize the vocational education department, focusing on accredited qualifications that can improve learners' employment prospects.
Dr Dlamini's doctoral research and professional experience inform her approach to correctional education and youth rehabilitation. She aims to contribute to evidence-based approaches in this field. Her message to women aspiring to leadership positions is to dream big and work relentlessly to turn those dreams into reality.
Dr Dlamini's personal journey, from growing up in a socio-economically disadvantaged family, has influenced her determination to pursue education. She completed her schooling at Nhletjeni High School and enrolled for Agricultural Education at the University of Eswatini's Luyengo campus in 2009. Her experiences have shaped her commitment to providing education and opportunities to young people in challenging circumstances.
Key points
- Dr Ngabisa Dlamini leads Vulamasango High School, combining education with rehabilitation for young people in correctional settings.
- Vulamasango High School provides education, psychological support, and rehabilitation to young people in correctional settings.
- Dr Dlamini aims to expand vocational training, improve learning facilities, and strengthen pathways into higher education and employment at Vulamasango.
