HEAVY RAINS DISRUPT CLASSES IN OVER 10 SCHOOLS

MBABANE – The heavy downpour experienced in the past two days has interrupted classes in over 10 schools across the country.

According to Shiselweni Regional Education Officer (REO) Siboniso Gumbi, Mbowane Primary and High schools reported that pupils will not be attending classes due to the bad state of the roads. Gumbi said Mentiwa High also reported that pupils failed to reach their respective homes in time on Wednesday due to the unavailability of public transport.

Predicament

The REO said schools like Thembelihle High and others faced the same predicament as the roads were muddy and slippery, rendering inaccessibility to public transport. He also indicated that he was yet to get a report of the schools that suspended lessons in his region as only a few called. “There are areas in my region that are not accessed during rainy days as the roads are in a bad state. I received a few reports of some of the schools that suspended lessons, but I am still to get a detailed report. It is advisable that parents, in consultation with head teachers, have to prioritise the safety of their children and pupils,” he said.

In the Lubombo Region, Sitsatsaweni Primary School Deputy Head Teacher Abner Mbuli said after assessing the situation on Wednesday and yesterday, he resolved to suspending lessons considering the safety of the pupils, especially those that cross streams and rivers to reach the school. Mbuli mentioned that lessons will resume today as the weather patterns were improving. The deputy head teacher said over 250 pupils failed to turn up for lessons on both days, hence he resolved to suspend classes.

“Some of the pupils have to travel long distances to reach the primary and high schools, with some crossing streams and rivers along the way. Schools in rural areas are the most affected during the summer season,” he said. His counterpart at Manzini, Sizwe Kunene shared the same sentiments, mentioning that he was yet to get a report on the schools that suspended lessons in his region. Kunene said he only received a call from the head teacher of Mnjoli High School, informing him that he had suspended lessons after the school recorded a poor turnout of pupils.

The REO said he suspected that more schools, especially those in rural areas, suspended lessons for the safety of their pupils. “I have not been in the office as I am attending a meeting here at Kwaluseni. However, I cannot rule out that more schools might have suspended lessons as some bridges and rivers were overflowing for the past two days,” he said.   

Asserted

Mafucula Umphakatsi Bucopho Sambulo Masuku also asserted that the community’s primary and high schools suspended lessons because the road was in bad condition. “There was difficulty in the movement of vehicles, especially public transport, as the road is slippery hence pupils remained at their homes,” he said. He further appealed to government to intervene and provide machinery to rehabilitate the road. Ministry of Education and Training Under Secretary Schools Manager Lungelo Nhlengethwa said he was yet to receive reports from the REOs of the affected schools.

“They haven’t reported their challenges as yet, but I am sure the REOs will relay their messages once they have also been informed. For now, I cannot say much until I get a detailed report of the schools that suspended lessons due to the rains,” he said. Worth noting is that the floods experienced in September last year worsened the state of gravel roads across the country and further damaged bridges. In September last year, over 70 pupils from Sitsatsaweni enrolled at schools in Siteki missed lessons due to the overflowing of Manzimnyama River and the damaged road.

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: