EDUCATION MINISTER OFFSIDE

Sir,

I was shocked to hear the minister of Education threatening head teachers with arrest instead of thanking them for running schools like magicians. Since the beginning of this academic year, a majority of schools in Shiselweni have not received any cent from government but head teachers did not close schools.

I thought the broke government would appreciate the patience shown by head teachers, instead the minister reminded them of his power to arrest head teachers who would expel pupils.

Minister, it is not true that the money was not paid because of pin numbers, but the truth is that your government is broke. Most emaSwati have seen that government is struggling to pay, not only FPE but a lot of other obligations.

We are aware that some schools were paid in full even though not all pupils had pin numbers. We communicate with other head teachers all over the country; the money was not enough for all the schools, so that is why the issue of pin numbers was raised just to cover government’s dire state.

Minister, stop threatening head teachers but solve the problems and learn to appreciate other stakeholders who have shown patience. It is obvious that head teachers were forced to use their own money for certain emergencies that keep arising in schools and that may result to audit queries if they could try to back pay themselves.

The acting PS told head teachers in Shiselweni that parents who failed to bring pin numbers for their children had to pay. She went on to say next year they would have to buy their own stationery and textbooks because having no birth certificates means they are not emaSwati.

She highlighted how other countries treated foreigners. She cited South Africa’s refusal to give emaSwati study permits. Why such examples? She further explained the kind of approach we also must engage in our kingdom. She then stressed that the money is for emaSwati and the law does not allow foreigners to benefit from it. She pointed out that the only way to know if a child is a Swazi is through a pin number. The question is: what if they refuse or fail to pay?

So far, it seems no child has been expelled. So, we are still safe from your threats minister but a big damage has occurred since schools were operating without money. So expect the failing rate to increase. Oh yes, I remember that no child should repeat according to 2017 circulars. Should a child repeat, the head teacher will pay for that child? So principals will keep on promoting failures. I hope tertiary institutions will get threats and be forced to allow failures to enrol. Or more Asians will come to Eswatini and employ cheap labour. More police will be employed to fight against crime and arrest the increasing ladies of the night?

Children with both parents have no problems with pin numbers, so you are wrong to punish head teachers of disadvantaged children. Minister, don’t forget that head teachers are not the ones tasked with issuing birth certificates; so please stop frustrating them.
Government introduced FPE after being taken to court by an ex-miners’ association, so head teachers should not hesitate to take government to court and force it to pay on time and also force government to increase FPE grants.

Primary schools head teachers, there is a lot you should demand from government instead of folding hands and behave like you are smart yet you know government is not smart but waiting to arrest you.

Stop investing your hopes on SWAPA or SNAT but fight for your rights your own way. Do not forget that SNAT played a role in putting you on D4 instead of D5 as is the case with high school heads.

Cwayisile
Head teacher

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