MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HAS LOST ITS MANDATE

When the director considers qualifications at first instance, it is not the post that influences such a stance; rather, the relevance of the qualifications to the teaching service.

As a matter of urgency, I’m gravely disappointed with the Ministry of Education and Training: the cornerstone of this country in terms of human resource. This ministry has lost its initial mandate.
A thorny issue is that of degreed primary teachers deployed in primary schools and paid way below their legal scale.
One is left baffled as to when is one paid according to qualifications and when is one paid according to the post in the Kingdom of Swaziland?

Within the teaching sector, to narrow down the argument, there are degreed teachers, without education, who are remunerated at C4.
 That to me is them paying according to their qualifications. In the same ministry, there are teachers with degrees who are paid at C3. That is not paying them according to the qualifications one holds. Even the engaged O’level teachers are paid according to the certificates they hold, not the post.

This then raises a myriad of unanswered questions on the inconsistent application of law by the ministry.
What has driven me up the wall recently is the issue of emabutfo employed as teachers.
One just wonders in awe on which scale are these going to be remunerated now? How is it that the TSC has been transferred to Nkhanini, King’s Office?
All this is happening right under the nose of the director of Education. This is appalling to say the least.

The director is an omniscient figure in the ministry. I just wonder if she did interview these ‘warriors’ teaching our children now.
The director is known for belittling teachers: mocking their certificates: labelling their qualifications and openly telling the holders that their certificates have no value and holders of same shall retire in primary schools with their poor subject combinations.

Let me reveal this, editor: as TEATQ we shall not despair, we shall not tire. We will shout on rooftops if need be. Pay us accordingly: give us promotions.
As TEATQ, our cause is just: we’re not asking for a utopian concept; rather, we are asking that sanity and justice prevail in those air-conditioned Mbabane offices.

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