Times Of Swaziland: CONTRACT RENEWALS: IT’S ACTUALLY 1 231 TEACHERS

CONTRACT RENEWALS: IT’S ACTUALLY 1 231 TEACHERS
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Nhlanganiso Mkhonta on 31/01/2023 08:47:00


MBABANE – It’s actually 1 231 teachers who will have their contracts
renewed.
Government has come out to state that Cabinet has approved contract renewals for
1 231 teachers. Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Public Service Sipho
Tsabedze confirmed that the correct position on the issue of employing teachers
was that 1 231 teachers would be employed as per the memo that was sent to the
Ministry of Education and Training, dated January 19, 2023. This publication was
privy to the said memo that the PS had since confirmed to be authentic.
According to the memo, the 1 231 teachers would be hired on a contract basis for
a period not exceeding two years. When delivering her back-to-school statement
about a fortnight ago, the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza,
hinted that government had approved the hiring of teachers on contract basis.
Contracts
The minister said the number of contracts to be renewed were 1 500. However, the
memo and the PS in the Ministry of Public Service confirmed that the actual
number was 1 231 contracts that would be renewed. When sought for comment
yesterday, Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training
Bhekithemba Gama clarified that the minister did not necessarily say the 1 500
was the exact figure of teachers to be hired, but it was an estimation. Gama
said the minister said about 1 500. Gama said they were aware of the exact
number (1 231) that was confirmed by the Ministry of Public Service. He
highlighted that there were possibilities that the Teaching Service Commission
would announce the exact figures today.
Petition
On January 13, members of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT)
marched to deliver a petition to the Ministry of Public Service. One of their
demands was the hiring of teachers. They demanded government to hire at least 5
000 teachers this academic year on a permanent basis. They argued that the 5 000
permanent posts would facilitate a good teacher to pupil ratio as it was crucial
for learners to have good quality education. In an interview with this
publication yesterday, SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati said as an
organisation, they were still demanding that government must hire at least 5 000
teachers. He said they were actually disappointed that Cabinet could allow and
approve 1 231 while there was a need for at least 5 000 teachers in schools
across the country. Vilakati said it would be better if the 1 231 teachers would
be hired on a permanent basis. He said as a union, they were disappointed in the
manner government was treating the education sector as it showed that it was not
prioritised.