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<\/p>\nBy Thokozani Mazibuko<\/p>\n
The Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, has revealed that the government is working towards transforming Good Shepherd College of Nursing into a fully-fledged university.<\/p>\n
This development is expected to greatly expand higher education opportunities in the health sector and beyond.<\/p>\n
Speaking during the official opening of the Inter-Regional Meeting of Catholic Bishops of Southern Africa (IMBISA) Golden Jubilee Conference at Esibayeni Lodge, Nxumalo said the proposed upgrade is part of the government\u2019s long-term strategy to broaden access to tertiary education and to strengthen Eswatini\u2019s capacity in producing skilled professionals.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe government has committed itself to invest in institutions of higher learning, and we are currently working towards upgrading Good Shepherd College into a university,\u201d said Nxumalo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will not only cater for our nation\u2019s health workforce needs but also contribute to academic research and development.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Minister explained that the move comes at a time when the country is experiencing an increasing demand for specialised training in nursing, medicine, and allied health professions.<\/p>\n
By upgrading the college, students will have access to advanced degree programmes without the need to seek further training outside the country.<\/p>\n
Nxumalo further highlighted that the establishment of a new university will complement existing institutions such as the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) and Southern Africa Nazarene University (SANU), thereby expanding the higher education landscape in the Kingdom.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Education experts welcomed the announcement, saying the upgrade would ease the pressure on the few existing universities and open new pathways for research, innovation, and professional growth.<\/p>\n
Health sector stakeholders have also praised the idea, pointing out that Eswatini\u2019s health system needs more qualified professionals to meet growing population demands.<\/p>\n
A student nurse at Good Shepherd College, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: \u201cThis is encouraging news for us. Currently, we must look outside the country if we want to pursue postgraduate studies. Having a university here at home will save us costs and keep us closer to our families.\u201d<\/p>\n
Good Shepherd College, located in Siteki, is a Catholic Church\u2013owned institution with a long history of training nurses and midwives for Eswatini and the region.<\/p>\n
The Minister\u2019s announcement was therefore fitting, as it was made in the presence of more than 120 Catholic bishops from Southern Africa who had gathered for the IMBISA Jubilee celebrations.<\/p>\n
Father Ncamiso Vilakati, Media Liaison Officer of the Roman Catholic Church in Eswatini, said the church was pleased with the government\u2019s commitment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Catholic Church has always placed education and healthcare at the heart of its mission. The news that Good Shepherd will be upgraded into a university affirms the church\u2019s long-standing contribution to nation-building,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Thokozani Mazibuko The Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, has revealed that the government is working…","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4115,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"iawp_total_views":0,"csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","csco_page_load_nextpost":"","csco_post_video_location":[],"csco_post_video_location_hash":"","csco_post_video_url":"","csco_post_video_bg_start_time":0,"csco_post_video_bg_end_time":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[47,61,25,26],"tags":[46,73,48,58],"class_list":["post-4109","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-africa","category-film-tv","category-national","category-swaziland","tag-africa","tag-eswatini","tag-feature","tag-national","cs-entry","cs-video-wrap"],"yoast_head":"\n<\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n