Times Of Swaziland: GOVT INSISTS SCHOOLS OPEN TODAY GOVT INSISTS SCHOOLS OPEN TODAY ================================================================================ BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 11/09/2018 03:48:00 MBABANE – Back to school! All teachers this morning are expected to be in class and conducting lessons without fail. This is according to a government press statement issued by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training Dr Sibongile Mtshali. The press statement was directed to all head teachers, teachers, regional education officers (REOs), chairpersons of school committees, school grantees and managers. The government school calendar had indicated that the reopening of schools for the third and final term was September 11, 2018. There has been uncertainty on whether schools would be opening, following the ongoing battle between government and civil servants who want at least 6.55 per cent cost-of-living adjustment (CoLA). The ministry stated that the latest press stament which was issued around 4pm yesterday, was meant to reiterate a letter issued by the Ministry of Education and Training dated August 30, 2018. The August letter, according to the PS was informing the nation about the reopening of schools on September 11, 2018, for the third term, as per the schools’ calendar that was issued at the beginning of the year, 2018. “Based on that letter, the Ministry of Education and Training in conjunction with the Teaching Service Commission, wishes to advise that all teachers should report for duty on Tuesday September 11, 2018 to carry out their obligations, and this should be done without fail,” reads the press statement. The ministry further directed all head teachers to ensure that teaching and learning took place and was done so effectively. Before signing it off, the PS stated that the cooperation in that regard from all the people whom the letter had been addressed to, would be greatly appreciated. Meanwhile, our sister publication the Swazi News, reported that teachers resolved not to conduct lessons today but hold branch meetings across the country.