Times Of Swaziland: MOST TEACHERS DEFY SNAT’S CALL TO STAY AT HOME

MOST TEACHERS DEFY SNAT’S CALL TO STAY AT HOME
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 BY STANLEY KHUMALO on 30/06/2020 00:28:00


MANZINI – Despite a call by their association, teachers were at their
workplaces yesterday.
On Friday, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT), had called a
press conference demanding that teachers should not set foot at schools as they
would be exposing themselves to contracting the coronavirus.
In spite of this, the teachers were at their workplaces where some were cleaning
the schools while others were engaged in meetings to strategise on the reopening
of schools.
This reporter visited a number of schools and one of them was Ngwane Park High
School. At the school, the head teacher, Buyile Shongwe,  said they had arranged
that teachers would arrive at 10am.
After their arrival, the teachers were informed what the school had done in
anticipation of the reopening.
This included the placing of wash basins near the entrance of the school and at
various buildings.
Also, the school had also installed taps that would be controlled by foot so
that pupils and teachers alike do not touch them.
Shongwe said after the Ministry of Education and Training informed them about
plans to reopen schools, they set up a task team to prepare for everything.
Demarcated
She said classes had been demarcated in such a way that pupils would observe
social distancing as promoted by the Ministry of education and Training and the
World Health Organisation (WHO).
Shongwe said: “We set the timetable and everything else way before this week
and we are ready to start lessons.”
She further said the school had already procured sanitisers and anything else
that would be needed.
Also, this publication visited St Theresa’s High School where teachers were
present.
The head teacher of the school, Albert Sihlonganyane, said the teachers were in
departmental meetings where they would set their timetables and  raise what
needs to be done in preparation.
“The teachers are eager to work but like all human beings, they are scared of
contracting the virus,” he said.
Meanwhile, teachers from other schools relayed that they were cleaning their
classrooms in preparation for next week.
They said they would be demarcating where pupils would sit as well.
To this, SNAT Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini said they were aware of this
and had learnt that teachers were engaging in workshops this week.
He said they would observe what would be happening in schools as the week
progressed.