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School fees must also be refunded

18/07/2012 00:00:00 SAMBULO MATSE

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MANZINI – Some people feel that if government has deducted money from teachers’ salaries, it will have to refund parents the school fees that have been paid.

This was gathered while conducting random interviews with people in the streets of Manzini yesterday.

Mduduzi Shongwe - Mayiwane – "It is not good for government to deduct money from the teachers’ salaries, in such a situation where teachers are still in the streets demanding an increment. Teachers are very important to the country, so fighting them will not remedy the situation, but listening to them can bear good results."

Sifiso Matsenjwa - Mfabantfu – "If government does that, it would be a blunder, because teachers are still Swazi citizens, whether you differ with their demand or not. A man in a homestead cannot turn a blind eye to his children when crying of hunger, but can look for possible ways of rescuing the family. This country introduced many things at the same time. Government should have at least started its VAT at eight per cent rather than the 14 per cent, and also looked into issues of reducing Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE). Teachers just like everyone else, need to buy food and take children to school among other things."

Bhekumusa Fakudze - Buseleni – "This is wrong, it is so surprising that the Constitution is not followed by the same people who are leading us. If I may ask, who really negotiated for Finance Circular No 1 of 2010? They gave themselves that but expect others to live on meagre salaries. By deducting the teachers’ salaries, we believe government should then refund all parents in the country, for we have already paid school fees in different schools in the country. We want our refunds."

Busi Thwala - Hlatikhulu – "There is an ongoing strike by teachers in the country and government decides to deduct salaries, what is the government expecting to see? Teachers going back to class? That is not possible. Government has just fuelled teachers to go on with their strike."

Mbusi Dlamini - Sitsatsaweni – "It is disturbing that our government fails to see where the country is headed. Today public transport operators were toyi-toying, and who knows what may follow. Teachers’ demands need to be looked into, not government’s style of resolving issues."

Comments

Yah! Parents who send their children to government schools must be refunded for the days lost. For three weeks our children have not been going to school; yet as parents we pay full tuition, meals/boarding fees (for hostels), and even transport for commuting pupils. Its worse for parents who are civil servants, who are under paid and double taxed, now no-work-no-pay.
Jul 18, 2012, 8:05 AM, True!

They say you reap what you saw. That is what is about to happen to this government of ours. They have been ignoring swazis for a long time.
Jul 18, 2012, 8:05 AM, sbura (sburafanvy@gmail.com)

Sir, School fees MUST be slashed as well. These days it is so painful to be a Swazi and how i pray that God helps us remove this current GVT. The whole team has failed including the PM and time for change has come. We are sick and tired of these people who are busy enriching themselves at our expense. What is 4.5%??? Cha labantfu laba vele bogubela kwesabo. OH! COME LORD JESUS. EM DLAMINI
Jul 18, 2012, 8:05 AM, EM Dlamini (emdlamini@gmail.com)

As much as it is sad to see the Government cutting the teachers salaries, we must realise that when you voice your concern by downing your tools, the employer (irrespective of its Gorvenment or Private employer) will respond by applying the No Work No Pay rule. The teachers should know that by now. As a Parent I'm lamenting the fact that my child is loosing valuable time but I do understand their (teachers) concerns but it does come at a price.
Jul 18, 2012, 2:21 PM, BS Nkosi (bheki.nkosi@angloamerican.com)

Our gov is an embarrassment to say d least. So if a child asks 4 an extra slice of bread 4 breakfast 2dae, 2moro he/she s nt goin 2 get anythin jst bcoz he askd 4 an extra. This s pathetic.
Jul 18, 2012, 2:21 PM, Msandrise D (msandie@gmail.com)

I find this to be a very sensible idea. School fees must be refunded to cater for gone educational days. In accounting, wherever there's a debit, there must be a corresponding credit. Gov't has debited the teachers 'salary accounts' by their unilateral decision to deduct other people's salaries . Therefore, a credit entry must be passed in favour of the parents 'school fees account'. If gov't refuses to do that, they had better refund the teachers or face the wrath of all self-respecting accountants in the country. It just hit me...the PM is a highly qualified Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and I'm sure Umlangeni will see where I'm coming from.
Jul 18, 2012, 2:21 PM, Debit Protocol (deb@f)