PIN WOES OVER FOR 4 600 PUPILS ON FPE

MBABANE – Free Primary Education (FPE) will not be a far-fetched dream for about 4 600 pupils whose education was in limbo due to the lack of PINs.

PIN is an acronym for personal identity number.
This is because the Ministries of Education and Training and Home Affairs will, with effect from next week, register the pupils from various schools around the country.

According to the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Home Affairs, Anthony Masilela, both ministries have decided to visit the schools with the aim to register the pupils and further give them birth certificates. Masilela said through collaboration, the two ministries had already compiled a list of children without PINs and would be registering them from next week.

He said they had selected 10 schools per region and would start in Lubombo, followed by Shiselweni, Manzini then end with Hhohho.
 There was no specific time frame given on the duration of the exercise.

The PS said the country was faced with a challenge of children who did not have PINs, meaning that they did not have birth certificates and were not counted in the country’s population register.

He stated that a lot had been said on the issue and the ministries criticised for shortcomings, but the problem was solely with those who had not taken the children for registration.
“It is a child’s right to be registered within 60 days after birth,” Masilela said.

According to Masilela, the Ministry of Education and Training was also at fault by enrolling children without the necessary documentation. However, he said the problem had been identified and a solution was to be provided.
“Working together with the Ministry of Education and Training, we will be visiting the schools to provide services to children who needed it,” said Masilela.

According to Masilela, parents were expected to be at the schools on the registration dates to be announced.
“With married couples, one parent is expected to accompany their child, however, with children born out of wedlock, the mother of the child should accompany them,” he said. Masilela said if parents had challenges, a relative from the mother’s side could accompany the pupil with all the relevant information about the child.
The PS said orphaned children would be accompanied by their guardians.
Acting PS in the Ministry of Education and Training Dr Sibongile Mtshali said schools were frustrated by the issue of pupils who had no PINs.
Mtshali commended the partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs on the registration of PINs, following concerns on the issue.
She said there were instances where PINs were needed, including school trips, where pupils needed to secure travel documents. Mtshali said it was an obligation for Grade VII pupils to have a PIN as it was required when sitting for the Swaziland Primary Certificate (SPC) Examinations.
She said they had requested regional education officers (REOs) to assist in working with the schools in their regions during the registrations.
According to Mtshali, REOs would be working with the schools’ head teachers on the specific dates.
Swaziland Principals Association (SWAPA) President Welcome Mhlanga said they welcomed the initiative by the two ministries. However, he said they would have been happier if the ministries visited the schools at the beginning of the school term when they realised there was a challenge.
“By this time, all schools would have received the funds and operating smoothly but instead, they have to wait a little longer for the process until the funds are released,” Mhlanga said.
He said schools faced challenges when operating without the requisite resources and the difficulties would persist as money made a school function.

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