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FATE OF 166 NGCOSENI FAILURES STILL UNKNOWN

10/01/2017 09:02:00 BY SIBUSISO ZWANE

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NGCOSENI – The fate of the 166 Ngcoseni Central High School pupils who failed Form III in the class of 2016 remains unknown.

This is despite the fact that the 2016 Junior Certificate (JC) results were released last Wednesday and the head teacher of the school has submitted his report about the results to the Manzini Regional Education Office (REO).
The pupils and parents who were found at the school said they were in the dark regarding what would happen when schools open in a fortnight’s time.

They said they were only given the symbols by the deputy head teacher and nothing was said to them regarding spaces for repeating. They said no one addressed them on the matter.
One of the parents, who preferred to remain anonymous because she wanted to protect her children from possible victimisation, said in 2015, 94 pupils failed the JC examinations and they were provided with two classes. “Now, there are 166 pupils who failed. We do not know if the school will be able to provide more classes for them to repeat or if we should find other schools.”

She said it was even worse for those who were repeating the grade for a second time because it could be suggested that they try other schools as it was once hinted earlier last year.
According to the parents, the school was supposed to discuss the matter immediately after the results were released by the Examinations Council of Swaziland (ECoS) so that by the time pupils come for their symbols, the administration gives them directions on what to do or expect.

However, some of the pupils in question made their demand clear; they said the school should make sure that they are all accommodated to repeat the grade when schools open in two weeks’ time.
They wondered where they would attend school if they were not allowed to repeat since Ngcoseni was the nearest school. “The school should know that we are its children and it has to take care of us,” said one of the pupils, who did not hide that he had failed for the second time.

However, some of the pupils said they did not see themselves coming back to the school after failing a class twice yet they were willing to learn.
On the other hand, the Head teacher of the school, Gcinumuzi Dlamini, said he could not comment on the matter because he had already submitted his report to the REO. He said the matter was now in the office of the REO.

Meanwhile, Manzini Regional Education Officer (REO) Mlimi Mamba asked that the school be given a break so that it could breathe and be able to get back on its feet. “My office is considering all interests, so we will meet the parents, school committee and teachers next week. However, if there is a parent who needs some clarification, he/she could go to the school,” the REO said.