Swaziland: English a Passport to Success?

A heated debate is underway in Swaziland about whether children who fail English should be forced to repeat the academic year. "The English language requirement is a millstone around the neck of every Swazi school child,” says Agnes Khumalo, a public school teacher in the northern Hhohho province. But, businessman Arthur Simelane disagrees. "You can't get a good job without a knowledge of English, or succeed in the business world without competence in the international language,” he told IPS.