SCHOOLS ‘CLOSED’

MBABANE – In light of the two press releases issued by government on Monday, teachers have opted to stick to the one by the Ministry of Education and Training of closing schools.

Most schools were not operational yesterday.
Outgoing Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General, Zwelithini Mndzebele, said they have chosen to stick to the ministry’s statement to close schools until Monday.

Government, later on Monday released a statement ordering schools to continue operating, denouncing the earlier statement that they should remain closed until Monday.

The earlier statement of closing schools was communicated by the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Dr Sibongile Mtshali.
Mndzebele said schools reported to the education ministry and they had an official memo which was signed by the PS that schools must close.

He said they respected the PS as she was enlightened and made her decisions for the protection of pupils.
Mndzebele said the union owed the PS a present for the great leadership she had displayed.

A visit by this reporter to most of the schools was proof enough that they were not operating.
Borders at St Mark’s High School were found leaving the premises, while others said they were waiting for the arrival of their parents.

They said they had been officially released by the school authorities and would be returning on Sunday, as classes would resume on Monday.
Schools that were closed included SOS Herman Gmeiner, KaBoyce High, St Mark’s Primary and High, Cedusizi Primary.
 Some private schools were closed, which included Siyakhula Primary among others. Teachers were found in some of the visited schools but there were no pupils present.

According to one of the teachers’ who was found at SOS Primary School, who preferred to remain anonymous, they were busy with their administrative duties.
She said the pupils decided to remain at home at their parents’ discretion for safety reasons.

“Through the announcements that were made, the parents resolved to keep their children safe,” the teacher said.
 She said teachers who decided to come to school were busy with their administrative duties.
The Head teacher at Woodlands High School, who identified herself as Ms Manyatsi, said they had not told pupils what to do but they resolved to stay at home.
“What is good is that it was not the school that mandated the pupils to remain at home but they decided by themselves,” she said.
She said parents and pupils used their own discretion to keep their children home for saftey reasons.

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