SCHOOLS RETURN TO NORMAL DAYS, PROTESTS CONTINUE

EZULWINI – All grades are expected in school come next week Monday on a full-time basis.

This means an end to the rotational system that was previously put in place by government. This was announced by the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, during a press conference held yesterday at the Eswatini Revenue Services (ERS) Headquarters. The minister said government had approved the reopening of schools, for all grades, every day of the week from October 11, 2021. “This will assist the ministry in implementing fully the compressed curriculum and finish the syllabus in time for the administration of exams in March 2022,” said the minister.

normalcy

She said they would also ensure that the school calendar for 2022 was completed in December and allow government to bring back normalcy for the academic year starting January 2023. “I would like to encourage head teachers to ensure that COVID-19 protocols are observed even with the full class complement,” said Mabuza. She said the inspectorate would continue to monitor that with the support of the Ministry of Health surveillance teams.

Mabuza also said the ministry would continue to ensure that schools had enough water for handwashing and cleaning purposes. “Head teachers are also encouraged to liaise with regional education officers in case they face water shortages. This also goes for the school feeding programme, we expect them to alert their REOs” she said. The minister said government would continue disbursing the free primary education (FPE) and orphaned and vulnerable children’s (OVC) funds so that teaching and learning continued smoothly. She said schools that would experience challenges of any nature would be expected to report such to their respective REOs.

“As a ministry, we acknowledge the challenges of shortage of staff and we are doing our best to address them,” she said. The minister reiterated government’s request to all communities to protect their schools. “The violent incidents we have been witnessing not only disturb the learning process and the development of children, but it cost government a lot of money to rebuild schools and they also create fear and uncertainty among the staff. All these result in expenses not budgeted for,” said Mabuza.

urge

She urged and pleaded with all teachers to bear with the ministry during these difficult times. “We are aware that you are at the centre of effective learning in the schools and we bank on your support as a ministry,” said Mabuza. The minister advised all learners to focus on their education because they needed it and to also attend classes and cooperate in school as instructed by their teachers. “This is the most difficult time for you to acquire education. However, standards are not modified just because you have been learning under difficult circumstances. As such you are still expected to perform to the highest standards like all other students in the world,” she said.

Mabuza said to focus meant to desist from abusing drugs and engaging in illicit businesses, avoiding absenting yourselves from school and to cooperate with teachers at all times, especially by adhering to COVID-19 protocols and applying themselves in their schoolwork. She further said the girl-child should not be scared to continue going to school because they had fallen pregnant. The opening of schools is happening amid continuing protests by pupils.

violent

Teachers in two schools in the Lubombo Region yesterday ran for cover after pupils turned violent and pelted them with stones. The teachers are from Mnotfweni Primary School and Siphofaneni High School. Due to the incidents, classes in both schools were suspended indefinitely. Another school, Lomahasha High, also suspended classes after pupils protested and called for the school’s administration to visit one of their schoolmates, Machawe Lukhuleni, who was shot during the June/July political unrest. Lukhuleni spent almost six months at the Mbabane Government Hospital. He has since been discharged and is recovering at home.

Sigcaweni High pupils also locked the school gate, while Gamula High and Primary schools pupils also boycotted classes. Kamkhweli Primary and high school pupils also suspended classes after their pupils vandalised classrooms. A KaMkhweli Primary teacher, who requested to comment anonymously, said they were concerned about their safety. “We ran in different directions as the stones were flying all over as the pupils shouted that lessons cannot continue without their demands being addressed. We fear for our lives now because the pupils have resorted to violence. We told our head teacher that we won’t go back to class until the prevailing atmosphere normalises,” said the teacher. Mnotfweni Head teacher, Julianah Lushaba, said the pupils locked the gate and sang political songs, joined by those from Mnotfweni High. Lushaba said she had called a parents’ meeting next week Monday.

worried

The head teacher said she was worried about the safety of the educators as the pupils had started to be violent. She said the pupils pelted stones at the teachers and vandalised windows of some classrooms and those of the kitchen. “I have informed the REO about the matter. We are not safe as teachers. We hope the ministry will address the pupils’ grievances,” she said.

Meanwhile, Lomahasha High Head teacher Muzi Tsabedze said he had to suspend classes after the pupils rioted. “I will be meeting the school committee tomorrow (today) to map a way forward,” Tsabedze said. Lubombo Regional Education Officer (REO) Richard Dlamini said he would be visiting the affected schools to get the pupils’ demands so that they could be addressed.

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