TOPSY-TURVY TRIP TO TURKEY

MHLAMBANYATSI – A group of 18 boys and girls from one of the best-performing schools in Swaziland wants to visit Turkey next month, to participate in an international cultural exchange event.

Parents of Little Academy pupils have already been informed of the trip.
The school is situated in Mhlambanyatsi.

Most parents are excited while others are understandably sceptical, in light of political upheaval in the European country in recent times.
However, the Ministry of Education and Training has put its foot down, saying Turkey is too volatile at the moment.
For the sake of safety, the children will not be allowed to travel.

This is despite that the children already have their international passports and are eager to board the flight on April 21, 2017.
The school administration has confirmed the planned trip and its disappointment at the ministry’s decision. Faye Miller, the school’s Head teacher, said they were still finalising a few logistics regarding the trip. She revealed that the 18 pupils had already acquired air tickets to Turkey which cost parents about E8 000.

“A plane ticket to Turkey costs about E18 000 but we were able to get a discount because we were travelling as a group,” said the head teacher. If the trip goes ahead, parents would have to part with E800 for a shuttle that would transport the pupils to and from the OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
That is where the 18 pupils and four teachers will board their flight.

According to www.cheapestflights.co.za the longest flight from Johannesburg to Istanbul, a major city in Turkey, is 31 hours and 5 minutes long while the quickest is 11 hours and 25 minutes.
A depressed Miller told the Times SUNDAY that the school was invited by a certain municipal council from that country to be part of over 40 other schools representing their countries.
This will be in celebration of International Children’s Day. There will be exchange of science and cultural activities.

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