NO MONEY TO FIX BURNT SCHOOLS - EDUCATION MINISTRY

MBABANE- The Ministry of Education and Training yesterday made it clear that it did not have money to fix burnt schools.

Bertram Stewart, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry, said the only budget government had was limited to the assessed schools. He said fixing of burnt schools was costly to government as they required thoroughness. Stewart stated that apart from fixing schools, government had other responsibilities, which included payment of teachers, free primary education (FPE) and orphaned and vulnerable children grants. He, therefore, pleaded with pupils to use the existing structures for learning. He mentioned that this might last until government secured funds for the rehabilitation of the schools. He stated that it might take government some time to secure the funds.

Worth noting is that in some of the vandalised schools, classes and staffrooms were burnt, resulting in the damage of doors, ceiling and windows. Stewart urged parents to warn and protect pupils against participating in any act of violence when given the opportunity to shape their future. He pleaded with parents to make their children understand the need and the purpose of learning so that they could refrain from violence. Stewart pleaded with neighours and community leaders to ensure that pupils from child-headed families attended classes for purposes of learning. He said those pupils would get necessities at school. He stated that the ministry would not shift examination dates as the papers were already set.

Examination

He assured parents and pupils that examination rooms were ready and that invigilators were also ready to work. “As you all know that operations are not normal this academic year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it means we have to use every opportunity. It is a pity that some pupils wake up to burn schools as opposed to learning. We would like to encourage those pupils to refrain from this act and focus on their studies,” he said. He mentioned that as many children were supposed to start to Grade I, there would be no space for repeating Form V pupils. The PS also acknowledged the lack of teachers in some schools across the country. He said the ministry was doing all in its power to mitigate the challenge. He made an example that head teachers had been urged to furnish the ministry with the number of vacancies in the schools so that they could be filled.

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