Ministry reverses standardised mock exam directive

The ministry of education and training has withdrawn Circular No. 3 of 2025, which mandated a national standardised mock examination timetable, until further notice.

The ministry held a meeting with the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and the Swaziland Association of Schools Administrators (SASA) prior to announcing the decision.
Circular No. 3 of 2025 stated that the standardised timetable would ensure that all schools conducted mock examinations under the same conditions, thereby allowing for a fair and consistent evaluation of learner performance.

In this regard, the ministry noted that this aligns with the practice of subject panels preparing and moderating mock examination papers.
According to Principal Secretary (PS) Nanikie Mnisi, they wished to consult further and engage with teachers, who are the end users of the circular.
She stated that one of the reasons for withdrawing the circular was the lack of due diligence in consultation around it. She mentioned that they felt the circular was imposed on teachers, adding that there have been numerous activities in schools recently, including choral competitions.

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She stated that this required preparations, which were time-consuming.
Mnisi mentioned that there was a high possibility they would not complete their lessons, which were intended to be included in the standardised mock examination.

The PS noted that there were also ongoing sporting activities that kept pupils occupied throughout the term.
“Moreover, some funds have not been remitted from various departments, making it difficult for practical examinations to proceed if schools lack the financial resources to purchase the necessary examination tools,” she explained.
Mnisi stated that they subsequently engaged the teachers to suspend the circular and requested that it be put on hold until common ground could be reached.

She emphasised the need for everyone to start afresh, ensuring that all stakeholders would be aware of their responsibilities moving forward.
She stated that after having discussions, they hoped to begin implementing the circular in the coming years, based on consultations with headteachers, who serve as overseers of the schools.
On another note, SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati stated that they were not opposed to the standardised mock examination timetable; however, there were numerous loopholes that needed to be addressed. He stated that, adding to what the PS had mentioned some teachers were progressing at different paces and not covering the same chapters.

According to Vilakati, some teachers had planned trips and commencing the mock examinations would necessitate cancelling the trips scheduled for the beginning of the year.
Vilakati stated that the teachers needed to have a single scheme of work that would guide them in teaching the same material, ensuring that the pupils would be prepared to sit for the standardised mock examination.

He expressed his appreciation to the ministry for their consideration.
When the timetable was announced, some head teachers made it clear that they would continue with their regular timetables regardless of the directive.
They explained that the standardised timetable was introduced after they had already established their own schedules.
The headteachers stated that the dates they had set were influenced by several factors, including the need for teachers to complete the necessary topics before pupils sat for their trial exams in July.

Eswatini Observer Press Reader