HEAD TEACHERS BURN SCHOOLS TO HIDE EVIDENCE – MP

LOBAMBA – Manzini Region MP Busisiwe Mavimbela caused a stir in Parliament yesterday when she claimed that head teachers burnt schools in order to conceal evidence of misuse of funds.

This was during the debate of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Recommendations on the Auditor General’s (AG) Audit Report of Funds in Public Schools. Mavimbela first mentioned that head teachers worked hard but that in many instances funds went missing and they (head teachers) disappeared when the time to audit the schools came. She said when the head teachers disappeared, their offices were burnt out of the blue and the information needed by auditors got lost. Lobamba Lomdzala MP Marwick Khumalo seemingly took the submission seriously as when his chance to debate came, he mentioned that such an allegation was serious. “I noted with concern that a member of the PAC talked about schools being burnt by head teachers in order to destroy evidence of misuse of funds. You cannot make such an allegation in Parliament and not state a recommendation. I would suggest that you show us the schools since we heard the news from you,” said Khumalo.

Promotions

Meanwhile, Shiselweni I MP Sipho Mndzebele said he was concerned with promotions in the teaching service. He said in his view, those teachers who were abusive in schools were promoted the most. On another note, the issue of the term of office for school chairpersons seemingly divided the MPs. This is because while some said it was crucial to ensure that chairpersons did not stay in office for long, others submitted that such individuals were chosen by the parents. Motshane MP Robert Magongo was one of those who opposed the idea, saying chairpersons did not elect themselves but by parents. However, he invited the wrath of some MPs who stood up to ask him to declare his interests as he was known to be a chairperson in one of the schools in the Hhohho Region. Magongo then informed the MPs that indeed he was once a chairperson but that his term ended. While the debate of the report lasted till after 5pm, it was not passed by the MPs as they requested the PAC to go and look into some of the issues they raised. PAC Chairperson and Gege MP Musa Kunene became emotional as he was made to agree to the proposal that the report should not be passed.

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