Times Of Swaziland: SMOOTH START TO EXAMS MARKING BUT ...

SMOOTH START TO EXAMS MARKING BUT ...
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BY SIBONGILE SUKATI on 04/12/2019 01:26:00


MBABANE – Marking of the Junior Certificate and Eswatini Primary Certificate
examinations has started smoothly although the markers are again complaining of
not having received their food allowances.
Just like it was about three weeks ago, the new batch of markers, who are mostly
teachers, have said the allowances of E88 per day have not been received.
Those who were paid were those entrusted with marking the Eswatini General
Certificate in Secondary Education (EGSGCE), popularly known as Form V.
“We do not know why the money has not been deposited because the marking
schedule was long fixed,” said one of the makers.
She said they understood that maybe the Examinations Council of Eswatini
(ECESWA) wanted to make sure of the number of markers who had turned up, but
said in future the council needed to make a better plan.
Annually, ECESWA calls upon teachers to register for marking the external
examinations and in turn the educators get an extra income.
The markers said they were however, hopeful that the payments would start
trickling in today because an officer from ECESWA had been to the marking
centre.
The marking takes place in Manzini and one of the centres is Manzini Central
High School while others are at the Caritas Centre.
ECESWA Registrar Dr Edmund Mazibuko confirmed that the marking of the Grade VII
and Form III examinations had started.
Position
However, he was not in a position to state how many markers there were, stating
that they were still going to verify the figures and should have them ready by
today.
For some, depending on the grades they are marking, the process is expected to
take about two weeks.
The marking can start as early as 5am according to some of the teachers and it
would go on late into the night.
“This is why we need the money as soon as possible because we just do not have
it,” said a marker, who spoke on condition of anonymity in fear of being
victimised.
The short message service which was sent to the markers over three weeks ago
read: “This is a reminder to 2019 markers that food allowances of E88 per day
will be paid instead of food provision during marking. This will be paid in
advance during marking. Please provide banking details on first day of
marking.”
Breakfast
In the past, the markers were provided with breakfast, which included bread
rolls, tea, water and fruit. They were also served with lunch usually from
different providers.
Some of the markers are housed at Caritas, hostels like Mjingo High School and
St Michael’s High School while others are squatting with relatives.
The markers said some of their bank details were only taken on Monday.