MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Kingdom of SwazilandP.O. Box 39MbabaneSwaziland

Phone 268 404 2491/3Fax 268 404 3880

STATEMENT BY THE KINGDOM OF SWAZILAND - BYTHE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING,

HONOURABLE WILSON MAKHALEMPI NTSHANGASEAT THE 36TH SESSION OF THE UNESCO GENERAL

CONFERENCE

Madam Director GeneralMadam President of the General ConferenceMadam Chairperson of the Executive BoardDistinguished delegates from Member StatesLadies and Gentlemen

The Government of the Kingdom of Swaziland would like to pay its tribute and

appreciation to UNESCO for the enormous support afforded the country in

the past 33 years and in particular in this Biennium 2010/2011. During this

biennium Swaziland received great support from UNESCO, some of which will

be highlighted in this statement.

We pay our gratitude to UNESCO for approving and supporting SIX

Participation Programmes which are currently being implemented in the

country.

Swaziland was also among SIX African states selected by UNESCO to

participate in the pilot project of Inventorying Intangible Cultural Heritage at

the grass root level. Through this project, Swaziland was able to collect and

store data on the Swazi traditional marriage and on traditional healing in

Swaziland. From the implementation of this project, the Traditional Healers

Association recognized the need to hold workshops on how to network among

themselves and the other medical fraternities to ensure maximum health

benefit for the Swazi nation.

UNESCO also provided both Technical and financial support towards

workshops for parliamentarians in both chambers to fast track the process of

ratifications of the UNESCOCulture Conventions (1970, 2003 and 2005) by the

country. According to the Swaziland constitution of 2005, approval for

ratification is to be granted by parliament. The workshops have been held and

what is left now is to convene a joint seating of both chambers of Parliament, to

be sanctioned by the head of State, His Majesty King Mswati Ill, with a view of

holding the joint seating before parliament goes to recess in December.

UNESCO has also extended a grant to Swaziland to finance a project of

developing a National Parental manual to be launched and distributed with

training to Swazi people at the grass root level. This followed a proposal made

by Her Majesty, the Queen Mother for implementation of the project by the

Khulisa Umnfwana Organisation. This support from UNESCO also includes

both financial and technical support towards developing a business plan to

seek funding for the construction of safe lodging facilities for the youth,

particularly the girls, when they converge at the Royal Residence for Cultural

activities such as umhlanga. Her Majesty, The Indlovukazi has a great concern

for the welfare of the girl child, hence the need to ensure their safety during

these important cultural events with the provision of safe facilities and Life

skills empowerment sessions.

Swaziland is also particularly grateful to UNESCOfor the support extended to

the country towards the drafting of The National Science, Technology and

Innovations (STI) Policy (August, 2011) and the Education Sector (EDSEC)

Policy (April, 2011). The EDSEC Policy, supported through the UNESCO

EDUCAIDS project, has been endorsed by the Parliament of Swaziland and

preparations for its launch are at an advanced stage. The draft National STI

policy has been finalized and is awaiting approval by parliament. As I speak,

UNESCO has further extended support towards popularizing the draft policy

among key stakeholders during the World Science Day for Peace and

Development on November the 10th, 2011. Over and above the financial

support, UNESCO has also extended its expertise in the layout of the National

STI Profile and the Draft STI policy. For this the country is extremely grateful.

An assessment of the literacy situation among youth and adults in Swaziland

was conducted with assistance of UNESCO. For this Swaziland is grateful

because this will help the education sector to plan more relevant programmes

to meet the education needs of the Swazi people.

All this support from UNESCO has made a positive difference to the Swazi

people and has greatly increased the visibility of UNESCOin the country.

Finally, but not least, Swaziland would like to extend its special appreciation to

the Director and staff of the Windhoek Cluster Office for the support extended

to the National Commission for UNESCO in Swaziland. With their support and

guidance, the National commission has been able to carry out activities

related to the mandate of UNESCOwith more focus and direction. This has had

a great impact in increasing the visibility of UNESCO in the Kingdom; within

government sectors, civil society and even at the grass root level, but above all

has contributed to the welfare and development of the Swazi people.

I thank you all.