Times Of Swaziland: STOP SUMMONING OWING PARENTS TO COURT - PSYCHOLOGIST

STOP SUMMONING OWING PARENTS TO COURT - PSYCHOLOGIST
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Sibusiso Shange on 07/02/2023 08:54:00


MBABANE – Summoning parents for failure to pay school fees will not change the
fact that they do not have the money.
This was an observation of an independent psychologist, Ndoniyamanzi Mdlalose,
on national radio yesterday morning. As a result, Mdlalose said government
should rather consider negotiations between parents and head teachers as opposed
to summoning them to court. She said much as it was understandable that schools
could not function without money, summoning parents to court was likely to cause
them stress and humiliation as they failed to find solutions to the financial
challenges. She said certain factors should be considered in order to make the
negotiations effective. She stated that government should consider that some
parents permanently lost their jobs due to COVID-19 and the ongoing unrest.
Even though Mdlalose did not expand further on the effects of COVID-19 and the
unrest, it is public knowledge that the COVID-19 outbreak resulted in permanent
closure of some businesses. The COVID-19 pandemic hit hard on those who were
employed in the hospitality industry. The unrest on the other hand resulted in
the burning of structures and businesses.
Mdlalose stated that some parents were treated like dogs as they engaged head
teachers about the owed fees. “Some head teachers do not want to hear the
parents’ side of the story. They just shout and treat them like dogs whenever
they approach them. It is so painful to see a parent treated like a dog just
because he/she doesn’t have money,” she said.
On another note, Madlalose warned parents against making excuses even when
unnecessary. She reminded parents that they had all the time to prepare for
secondary and high school education when their children benefitted from the free
primary education. She said it was a pity that some parents still held the
notion that there was no need to educate their children if they themselves were
uneducated. “Parents should not be selfish and deprive their children of their
fundamental right to education.  Parents should give their children a change to
go to school. She also advised pupils to look for odd jobs such as gardening and
car washing in order to pay school fees.” Interviewed parents shared that head
teachers addressed them while on the other side of the school gate. They stated
that the head teachers did not even allow them entry to state their side of the
story.
balance
“I tried and failed to pay the full balance for my child who is doing Form I.
When I went to the school, the head teacher advised me to settle the balance so
that I can have access to my child’s results. I am still trying to raise the
money so that I can see the results. Worse is that my child has not been to
class pending the release of her results and payment of the deposit for this
academic year,” shared one of the parents. He said much as he understood the
hardship faced by the head teachers, withholding the result was detrimental to
the pupil as she had already missed lessons. Some interviewed head teachers
shared that some parents were reluctant to pay school fees. They claimed that
some parents could not be located once their children were allowed in class.
“If you were to be in my shoes, what would you do about a situation where a
parent dumps a child at school and never comes back to pay? We send pupils home
so that their parents can come for negotiations. We expect those who have made
promises to fulfill them. It is unfortunate that some run to the media instead
of doing the right thing for the interest of the pupils,” said a head teacher
who preferred anonymity in fear of victimisation.
Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training Bheki Gama
maintained that summons would be issued once the ministry got reports of failed
negotiations between the head teachers and parents. Gama said the challenge was
that some parents misinterpreted directives and warnings from the ministry. He
made an example that when the ministry warned against sending owing pupils home,
it did not mean parents should relax and not pay school fees as some perceived.
The PS said the ministry expected parents to negotiate for payments while pupils
were in class. “We have received information to the effect that some parents
made promises but failed to honour them once their children were in class. The
head teachers have shared that the parents relied on the ministry’s directive
for excuses. Parents should understand that schools could not be operated
without money, hence the need for payment. The ministry will be left with no
option but to take legal actions against parents who failed to honour their
promises after negotiations with head teachers,” he said. Gama added that
negotiations were still encouraged.
Asked if government had issued any summons in relation to owed fees, Gama stated
that no parent had been summoned to court so far. When asked about top-up fees,
the PS said much as these were agreed upon by parents and the schools, they
should not be a reason to send pupils home. He said no child should be sent home
for owed top-up.