Ministry announces new schools opening date

MBABANE – Minister for Education and Training Owen Nxumalo has announced that schools opening date has shifted from September 9 to September 16.

Nxumalo revealed that the reason for the shifting of the initial date was because of the ongoing Umhlanga Ceremony, event whose holiday is on September 8.

“Because of the ongoing Umhlanga national event, we have come to the decision to shift the date from September 9 to September 16, so that the maidens attending the event are not in any way bothered by schools opening and the event goes smoothly,” he said.

The minister said they will welcome scholars back at school on the announced date and wish them all the best in the last term of the current academic year.

Nxumalo revealed that the shifting of the date for the opening of schools was not meant for public schools only, but also those that are private.

On the closing of schools and the shifting of the opening date, Nxumalo revealed that the existing schools calendar will be followed but if there are any changes, they will be formally announced.

Recently, the Ministry of Education and Training distanced itself from an unofficial announcement that the school opening date has shifted from September 9 to September 16.

The announcement, posted by the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) on their official Facebook page, sparked a flurry of activity on social media, with many believing that the date had indeed changed.

However, Principal Secretary in the ministry, Naniki Mnisi clarified that the ministry is not aware of any change in the date.

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