Times Of Swaziland: GOVT: YOU CAN ATTEND TEACHERS DAY, BUT ...

GOVT: YOU CAN ATTEND TEACHERS DAY, BUT ...
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Siboniso Nkambule on 23/10/2024 10:07:00


MBABANE - The Ministry of Education and Training says teachers are permitted to
attend Teachers Day celebrations this Friday.
However, the acting Principal Secretary (PS) in the ministry, Nanikie Mnisi,
emphasised that ongoing school programmes, such as examinations, should continue
uninterrupted.
The World Teachers Day (WTD) commemoration is hosted and organised by the
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), and will be held at the
Mavuso Exhibition and Trade Centre. The WTD is held annually on October 5 to
celebrate all teachers around the globe. This year’s theme is ‘valuing
teachers voices: towards a new social contract for education’.
Passion
According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organisation (UNESCO), this reminds us of the passion teachers bring to their
profession daily; doing everything it takes to positively impact their
learners’ lives. In a memorandum addressed to all regional education officers
(REOs) and head teachers, Mnisi said the ministry has given SNAT permission to
host this year’s Teachers Day on Friday.Mnisi said on this day, teachers are
allowed to attend, but ongoing school programmes like examinations, should need
not be disturbed.According to Mnisi, this implies that teachers involved in such
programmes, as organised by the school or the ministry, must be available to
perform same.
She stated that this will ensure that schools operate properly.“Please do
allow concerned teachers to attend the event. Thanking you in advance for your
usual cooperation,” Mnisi said.
Meanwhile, SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati, speaking on SNAT Platform,
said they wrote a letter to the ministry, saying that teachers on Friday will be
commemorating WTD. Vilakati said the ministry responded affirmative to their
letter and allowed teachers to attend the day.
Attend
According to Vilakati, this is, not a SNAT day but a teachers day, which allows
those who are not even SNAT members to attend. Adding, he stated that alcohol
will not be sold in any stall on the day, as it will be centralised. He reported
that all stalls will be priced in the same amount during the day and night, it
will be E1 000. He said stalls during the day only will be E600 while during the
night only is E800.