THE 2026 external examination season got off to a smooth start yesterday, with schools reporting no major incidents as learners began writing their papers.
Schools across the country had stepped up preparations ahead of the examinations, including training invigilators, briefing learners on examination regulations and conducting workshops aimed at preventing malpractice.
According to the Examinations Council of Eswatini (ECESWA), a total of 80 062 candidates have registered for the 2026 national assessments, highlighting the scale of this year’s examination programme.
The candidates are registered across the Eswatini Primary School Assessment (EPSA), Lower Secondary Checkpoint Assessment (LSCA), Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE), Eswatini Prevocational Certificate of Secondary Education (EPCSE) and International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE).
The EGCSE has the highest number of candidates, with 28 924 registered, followed by the EPCSE with 23 002 and EPSA with 17 394. A further 4 909 candidates are registered for IGCSE, while 4 781 are registered for LSCA.
ECESWA said the 2026 timetabled national assessments commenced on September 28 with the Lower Secondary Checkpoint Assessment while EGCSE practical and oral examinations had already begun.
The timetabled EGCSE examinations commenced with Additional Mathematics and Information Communication Technology (ICT).
At schools visited by reporters from this publication, the opening papers were reported to have proceeded without disruptions.
At St Theresa’s High School in Manzini, Form V candidates were found writing their papers under the supervision of invigilators.
Headteacher Albert Sihlongonyane said the school had 12 candidates sitting for the IGCSE examinations and had conducted workshops for learners and invigilators ahead of the examination period.
He said the workshops focused on examination procedures, expected conduct and the consequences of breaching examination regulations.
Sihlongonyane said additional sessions had also been held for candidates who missed the initial workshops to ensure that all learners received the necessary guidance.
He said the preparation was important in helping prevent malpractice by ensuring that candidates understood the rules governing the examination room.
At Swazi National High School, Headteacher Brian Dlamini also described the start of the examinations as successful.
Dlamini said candidates had experienced a smooth start to the Additional Mathematics examination, with no problems reported during the sitting.
He said the school conducted annual workshops for both learners and invigilators to familiarise them with examination procedures and appropriate conduct.
“We had a perfect start of the Additional Mathematics for our candidates and I would say it was good. Now it is only up to the learners,” Dlamini said.
In Mbabane, St Francis High School Headteacher Dumisani Hlatshwayo said candidates had also progressed through their examinations without problems.
He said Advanced Subsidiary (AS) level candidates were writing their second practical paper, while Form V learners were sitting for Additional Mathematics Paper II. He said Form V learners had also completed their ICT practical examinations.
“So far everything is still going well,” Hlatshwayo said.
Ka-Boyce High School Headteacher Welcome Mhlanga also reported no examination-related incidents, saying he had not received any reports of problems during the day.
Schools have also placed emphasis on ensuring that candidates understand their timetables to avoid missing examination papers.
| Examination Level | Registered Candidates |
|---|---|
| Eswatini General Certificate of Secondary Education (EGCSE) | 28,924 |
| Eswatini Prevocational Certificate of Secondary Education (EPCSE) | 23,002 |
| Eswatini Primary School Assessment (EPSA) | 17,394 |
| International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) | 4,909 |
| Lower Secondary Checkpoint Assessment (LSCA) | 4,781 |
| Total Registered Candidates | 80,062 |
