HEAD TEACHERS REFUSE TO ACCOUNT FOR POOR RESULTS

MANZINI – Do not hold your breath.

Parents and the public who were hoping for a report from head teachers regarding the reasons behind pupils’ poor performance in the recent Standard 5 and Form 3 examinations will be disappointed. The Ministry of Education and Training has rescinded its directive that required the head teachers to submit letters explaining their schools’ high failure rates.

Tensions

This reversal came after a meeting between head teachers and the Ministry of Education yesterday at Ngwane Park High School, in Manzini, where tensions were high and school head teachers openly criticised the ministry. Around 200 head teachers attended the meeting, arguing that the ministry, rather than the schools, should be held accountable for systemic failures undermining education in Eswatini. They accused the ministry of shifting blame and ignoring long-standing issues that continue to compromise learning conditions in schools.

Criticism

The school leaders presented a united front in their criticism, highlighting several major issues they believe have contributed to the poor examination results. Chief among these concerns was the delay in recruiting teachers. They observed that the ministry often fails to hire new staff before the start of each academic year, forcing schools to operate with minimal staff for months and disrupting the learning process.

Another concern raised was the lack of training for teachers on the new curricula introduced by the ministry.  They highlighted that a group of teachers trained for the revised primary school curriculum graduated as far back as 2019, yet these educators have not been hired by government.  Instead, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) continues to prioritise graduates from before 2018.

The long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted the education of the class of 2024.  Educators pointed out that these effects left pupils at a disadvantage, making it unreasonable for the ministry to hold them accountable for their poor performance. Infrastructure challenges were also a concern. Some schools reported that severe weather conditions had caused significant damage to their facilities, further hindering the delivery of quality education.

Discussions

After hours of intense discussions, Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo announced the withdrawal of the directive that required the head teachers to account for their pupils’ results. This decision came after numerous head teachers demanded that the ministry recognise its role in the systemic failures affecting the country’s education sector.

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