‘THAT’S NOT MY MESS’

MBABANE – Dr Sibongile Mtshali says the estimated E40 million cost of running external examinations this year is not her mess.

The principal secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training, alleged that it was during the time when there was no government in place that a decision was taken to engage the 400 vehicles previously used by the Elections and Boundaries Commission (EBC) for the exams.

Also, security personnel were roped in to assist with the examinations.
This was during the time when Vincent Mhlanga was the acting Prime Minister.
The external examinations were first written by Form Vs from the beginning of October until November 9, 2018. This was followed by the examinations of Form III pupils who started writing in mid-October 2018 until November 9, 2018.

The last group of pupils who wrote their examinations were Grade VII pupils, who started on November 5 and completed on November 15, 2018.
Dr Mtshali was being interviewed following impeccable sources relaying that she had been asked about the expenditure, together with some officers from her ministry and those of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport.

To this, she said: “That was just a regular meeting of principal secretaries and there was nothing perculiar about it.”
Meanwhile, the spontaneous decision by the ministry to have the security personnel, preceded a sequence of uncertainties involving the ministry and teachers. Leading to the schools opening of the third and final term on September 11, 2018, teachers were threatening that they would not go back to work following an impasse they had with government.

The impasse emanated from the fact that while they wanted 6.55 per cent cost-of-living-adjustment (CoLA), government was offering none. In fact, government to date has been offering civil servants zero per cent.

threat

Following this threat, Dr Mtshali released a press statement wherein she advised all teachers that they were expected to be in class and conducting lessons without fail. The press statement was directed to all head teachers, teachers, regional education officers (REOs), and chairpersons of school committees, school grantees and managers. 

The ministry stated that the press statement reiterated a letter issued by the Ministry of Education and Training, dated August 30, 2018. The August letter, according to the PS, was informing the nation about the reopening of schools on September 11, 2018, for the third term, as per the schools’ calendar that was issued at the beginning of the year, 2018.

“Based on that letter, the Ministry of Education and Training in conjunction with the Teaching Service Commission, wishes to advise that all teachers should report for duty on Tuesday September 11, 2018, to carry out their obligations, and this should be done without fail,” reads the press statement.  The ministry further directed all head teachers to ensure that teaching and learning took place and was done effectively.

cooperation

Before signing it off, the PS stated that the cooperation in that regard, from all the people whom the letter had been addressed to, would be greatly appreciated. Subsequent to this, Dr Mtshali again released a press statement calling for the closure of schools.

At the time, the PS stated that schools were being closed because of an industrial action by public sector associations (PSA’s).  Press Statement No.7 of 2018, stated that schools were to be closed for three days. It stated that due to the uncertainty of the safety and protection of children during an industrial action by TUCOSWA, which was scheduled for September 18, 19, 20, 2018, classes were to be suspended during the aforementioned dates.

TUCOSWA is an acronym for the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland.
As a result, government requested parents to ensure that their children were kept at home. However, this was cancelled overnight and classes had to resume as then acting PM Vincent Mhlanga, said schools should continue operating as normal with immediate effect. 

statement

Mhlanga’s statement, No. 15/2018, stated that the issues raised by TUCOSWA and the unions were attended to by the previous Cabinet, and any outstanding issues would be dealt with by the next Cabinet. The acting PM reiterated that all teachers and pupils were expected to be in class on the aforementioned dates. However, on September 23, 2018, the Industrial Court deferred an intention by PSAs to host an industrial action.
Instead, teachers hosted a number of activities which they termed as union meetings and were out of their workstations for three days a week. This was just before October 1, 2018 when the first paper was to be written by pupils.

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