Biography of the Hon. Wilson M. Ntshangase
The Hon. Wilson Makhalempi Ntshangase was appointed Minister for Education and Training in 2008, being the elected Member of Parliament for the Shiselweni I Inkhundla constituency. He graduated with a Masters in Education (MA. EO) from the University of South Africa in 1995 and has over 20 years’ experience working as a head teacher in several high schools.
Joined Commonwealth: 1968 
Population: 1,185,000 (2009)
GDP p.c. growth: 1.7% p.a. 1990-2009
UN HDI 2010: world ranking 121
Net primary enrolment: 82.9% (2007)
Net secondary enrolment: 28.6% (2008)
Gross tertiary enrolment: 4.4% (2006)
Adult literacy: 86.9% (2009)
Public spending on education was 7.8% of GDP in 2007. There are seven years of compulsory education starting at age six and five of secondary. Net enrolment ratios are 82.9% for primary (2007) and 28.6% for secondary (2008) with a gross enrolment ratio for all levels of education combined of 63.7% in 2008. The pupil-teacher ratio for primary is 32:1 and for secondary 19:1 (2008). The school year starts in January.
The University of Swaziland offers degrees in law, commerce, agriculture, education, science and the humanities, as well as part-time courses in business studies. Swaziland College of Technology runs courses in engineering, building, education and business. The Vocational and Commercial Training Institute offers technical and business training. There is a national library and a mobile library service to remoter parts of the country. Literacy among people aged 15-24 is 93% (2009).
The government is introducing a new curriculum in the pre-vocational subjects of agriculture, business, home economics and technical studies, which is being piloted in 16 high schools throughout the country.
