Schools in Swaziland

Gross enrolment overall: 66.7% (2011)

Primary female–male ratio: 0.90:1 (2011)

Secondary female–male ratio: 0.97:1 (2011)

Primary pupil–teacher ratio: 29.3:1 (2011)

Secondary pupil–teacher ratio: 16.4:1 (2011)

There are seven years of compulsory education starting at the age of six. Primary school comprises seven years and secondary five, with cycles of three and two years. Some 67 per cent of pupils complete primary school (2010). The school year starts in January.

There are several private or independent schools in Swaziland. Examples include the Educare Centre, a pre-primary, privately owned school for children between the ages of three and six; Ubombo Primary School, an English medium, independent co-educational school situated on a sugar estate; Enjabulweni Independent School, which offers education from grades 1 to 12 and is situated on the outskirts of Manzini; Sifundzani School, an international, co-educational day school in Mbabane; and Waterford Kamhlaba, a United World College located near Mbabane. The academic programme is geared to the University of Cambridge International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).