Mananga college closing down

MANANGA – Mananga School, which is one of the leading private schools in the country, is closing down due to financial challenges.

The school is left with six months of operation as it will close down forever in December 2013.
The college founders, which are the Royal Swaziland Sugar Corporation (RSSC), Tambankulu and Inyoni Yami Swaziland Irrigation Scheme (IYSIS) said the enrolment has gone down to the point where running the school is no longer economically viable. The money needed to run the school has grown beyond E4 million.

At present no deliberation has been made, but there are various options that the founders may look into for the future.

Speaking through RSSC Corporate Communications Manager Sifiso Nyembe, the founders said they have tried some interventions to prevent the school from closing but they have not helped.
“Four years ago, a strategic plan was created with the help of a consultant to turn the school around and increase enrolment. This was a joint effort by the Board, teachers, pupils and parents.

Vigorous

“A vigorous marketing exercise was done in the country and outside, without success. The numbers continued to drop. An offer was made to other school companies to buy, rent or manage the school. None of them were interested,” he said.
He said they were in talks with neighbouring schools on the possibility of absorbing the children, especially the present Grade 11s.

“We also encourage parents to capitalise on the early notification to secure places in other schools,” said Nyembe.
The school is still expecting parents to fulfill their commitment for the year and pay school fees in full as it still had to run effectively until the end of the year.
Nyembe said they would do all in their power to ensure that teachers and support staff stay until the end of the year.

“This will include offering them an incentive. The emphasis of the incentive will also be that results must not be compromised,” he said.
On the issue of bursaries, Nyembe said RSSC was committed to the bursary obligations it made and pupils on bursaries would remain on those bursaries for the full duration of the bursary.
He said, “The Corporation regards education to be an important investment and, therefore, continually seeks ways to develop and invest in the future work-force.

“Over and above Thembelisha Preparatory School, RSSC supports seven-government-aided schools on the estate.”
These schools include Lusoti Primary and High, Ngomane Primary and High and Mhlume Primary and High schools.

Effort to get comment from the Ministry of Education proved futile as the minister’s cellphone rang unanswered while the PS was not available.

The enrolment
decline trend

YEAR         ENROLMENT
2009                189
2010                162
2011                126
2012                118
2013                112

In addition to the above, parents should provide for the following:
*    E2 750 Securing Deposit (New pupils only).  E500 of this deposit will be refunded to the         parents three months after departure from the College, provided there are no outstanding debts.  The balance is an administration fee charged by the Collegeupon registration of the learner.
*   School Levy E2 500 per  annum, payable in full in |Term I only.
*    Stationery Pack E350 payable  in full in Term II only.
*  Examination Fee for Grade 12  pupils: E4 028.

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