Times Of Swaziland: TSC TO DEAL WITH ABSENT TEACHERS, HEAD TEACHERS FACE DEMOTION

TSC TO DEAL WITH ABSENT TEACHERS, HEAD TEACHERS FACE DEMOTION
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Times Reporters on 09/08/2022 15:57:00


MBABANE – Woe unto head teachers and teachers who absented themselves and sent
pupils home yesterday!
The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training,
Bhekithemba Gama, said all head teachers who sent pupils home would be dealt
with by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC).  He said head teachers and
teachers who would be found guilty during a disciplinary hearing would be
demoted or have their services terminated. According to Gama, the ministry had
not issued any directive to any head teacher to send pupils home.
The PS stated that as a result, those who decided to send pupils home would be
charged and appear before a disciplinary panel at the TSC to explain to their
employer how and when they got permission to send the pupils home. “We have
been told that there was a number of children who were sent home today
(yesterday) by head teachers. They will have to explain to us why they decided
to turn the pupils away. The teachers did not show up will also have to answer
on why they did not go to work, because that is what they were hired for,” the
PS said.  It was gathered that the SNAT executive had attended a meeting at the
Ministry of Education and Training yesterday.
Dismissed
When questioned about the disciplinary measures to be taken against the teachers
if found guilty, the PS said they would treat all cases individually and those
found guilty may be demoted or dismissed from work. Furthermore, Gama said he
did not know why the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) executive
advised teachers to not go to work, while the members of the Executive of SNAT
were working on the day. Gama said this was unfair because if the ministry
decided to implement the no-work, no-pay rule, the SNAT Executive would get
their full salaries.
“The SNAT executive deceived teachers into taking the decision to not attend
classes while they themselves were working on the day. I do not understand if
that meant that the executive did not see any threats because if they did, why
did they not then postpone the meeting and stay at home like all other teachers
if really their decision was sincere and for the benefit of the other
teachers,” he said.
In response, SNAT President Mbongwa Dlamini said teachers did not have to worry
about any disciplinary proceedings because the decision to not go to work was
provided for by Section 18/2+3 of the OHS Act No.9 of 2001.  “Teachers should
not fear as they took a decision that was within their rights. There were
threats which made teachers decide not go to work. The head teachers also took
the right decision as their safety and that of the pupils is important. This
shows that the ministry does not consider the safety of its employees and that
of the pupils,” said Dlamini.
When asked why the SNAT Executive, including himself, the secretary general and
two of their members decided to report for duty while they had advised other
teachers to stay at home if they sensed any danger, Dlamini said they had
convened a meeting with the Ministry of Education and Training to talk about
issues which involved SNAT. “We went there for a meeting with the ministry,”
he said.