SIKANYE PARENTS BLAME MINISTRY

MBABANE – When people raise a concern, they do so with the hope of getting a solution.

For parents of pupils from Sikanye Secondary School, the bad performance in the Junior Certificate (JC) Examination has been caused by the Ministry of Education and Training, which did not take action when they raised certain concerns. The parents have argued that the ministry was to blame in that it did not do much when they raised an issue of improper conduct of some of the teachers. In 2015, parents marched to the Ministry of Education and Training, where they had an audience with the Minister, Phineas Magugula, to the effect that most of the teachers consumed alcohol excessively and frequently abandoned classes. In the 2017 JC results, the school was listed among the 20 worst performing ones and was placed at number 244 out of 260. Out of 23 pupils who sat for the JC examination, none of them obtained Merit passes while only one got a First Class pass. Eight pupils obtained Second Class passes while three got Third Class passes. Eleven of the pupils were recorded as having failed the examination and the school’s overall performance was rated at 47.83 per cent.

In 2016, the school also had the same number of failures, 12 Second Class passes with no Merit and First Class passes. Moses Dlamini, one of the parents who spoke to this reporter, said they were not shocked that the results had not improved, as some of the teachers whom they reported for loving the waters of immortality were still at the school. “We went to the ministry and sat down with the minister himself and his inspectors. We told him that the teachers consumed a lot of alcohol, especially during the marula season. At times, the pupils saw them dancing half-naked outside their houses,” alleged Dlamini. He stated that after the meeting with the minister, he gave assurance that something would be done. “We even had a meeting with the teachers themselves but only a few showed up. Right now, we want the ministry to tell us what we must do next. What is the purpose of having the school when things are going on like this?” he asked. Dlamini stated that the ministry sent inspectors to the school but nothing happened afterwards and that all the misbehaving teachers were still at the school.

Called for comment, the minister of Education and Training, advised the parents to write down their concerns and submit them to the office of the regional education officer (REO). “I am yet to check my records regarding the issue you are talking about. For now I would advise the parents not to just raise it verbally but make the REO’s office aware so that a solution can be found,” Magagula said. Head teacher, Siphiwe Shololo, sounded shocked when called as she asked where this reporter obtained her cellphone number from. When informed about the allegations against the school, she apologised and said it would not be proper for her to respond. “I think when things are bad it is not proper for a head teacher to talk, especially because people will think I am now shifting the blame. Please, can I not involve myself in these issues,” she said. Chairperson of the School Committee, Khabonina Vilakati, sang a different tune, saying the teachers had improved in terms of behaviour.

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