MBABANE – Teachers are unhappy that the Ministry of Education and Training has promised to deliver food only once schools have opened, despite their concerns.
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Lot Vilakati lamented the lack of preparedness for schools’ opening, especially regarding food delivery. Vilakati said that, in a meeting on Friday, the ministry informed them that food would be delivered today, yet public schools are opening on Tuesday.
This is an issue that schools face every term, as the ministry chooses to deliver food on the day of opening. Vilakati said the frustration with this is that the ministry will allegedly deliver to only 50 schools and then announce that food is available, even though more than half of the schools would be without food.
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Food delivered once schools open for safety reasons – PS
MBABANE – Naniki Mnisi, the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training, says that food is delivered once schools are open to ensure safety and due to a lack of manpower.
She confirmed that free primary education (FPE) grants will be paid on the official day of school opening and that orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) grants will be paid simultaneously, according to the Treasury Department.
She clarified that the OVC grants are not under her ministry’s control, but fall under the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office. When consulted, Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla stated that the accountant general is working on the OVC payments and will pay soon. Mnisi acknowledged a few staff movements in some schools, but said this was not enough to disrupt the opening. She explained that the movements were caused by the conversion of contract teachers to the permanent establishment.
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Parents association speaks out
MBABANE – The third term presents both excitement and challenges for parents, especially when it comes to settling outstanding school fees.
“Settling school fees is not easy for a parent because of the economy,” said Cedrick Chirwa, President of the Eswatini Schools Committee and Parents Association. He said parents would try to settle fees because they do not want their children to be chucked out of school or questioned about payments. He added that parents are struggling to make ends meet and are not simply refusing to pay. Chirwa commended parents for their efforts, stating that their children see these efforts and are encouraged to study hard.
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SASA warns of gloomy start
MBABANE – The Swaziland Association of School Administrators (SASA) has warned of a gloomy start to the third term if schools do not receive their funding by tomorrow.
SASA Spokesperson Gcina Thusi stated that the readiness of schools is dependent on the availability of FPE and OVC grants, which are essential for purchasing supplies and consumables.
“Food has not yet been delivered to schools. The ministry has assured us that food delivery will resume on Tuesday,” Thusi said, following a meeting on Friday involving the Ministry of Education and Training, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and SASA.
According to Thusi, schools have not yet received their grants. The principal secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training assured SNAT and SASA that the funds would be available by tomorrow. Therefore, they have decided to wait and assess the situation.
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