STILL NO FPE GRANTS FOR 21 PRIMARY SCHOOLS

MBABANE – Mayhem rules supreme in about 21 primary schools as government has failed to release their award them FPE grants since schools opened.

The first-term started on January 24, 2019. Since then, the schools have not been afforded any funding by government to settle free primary education (FPE) grants to date. Currently, government pays about E560 per pupil enrolled under the FPE programme. This money is the sole funding received by schools as the Constitution made a provision that each pupil should attain free basic education. Following frustration by some head teachers in executing their duties due to the lack of funding, they reported their challenges to the Swaziland Association of School’s Administrators (SASA).

Umbrella

SASA is under the umbrella of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) and its membership consists of head teachers and deputy head teachers. Secretary General of SASA, Siphasha Dlamini, said upon receipt of complaints that were forwarded by some of their members, the organisation embarked on an online fact-finding mission. To carry out this mission, Dlamini said they used social media, in what they termed the ‘2019 SASA FPE Payment Survey’. She said this was an initiative aimed at establishing the true picture of the challenges head teachers and their deputies were facing.

“We wanted to have the facts and engage our members in a way that would bring solutions to their various challenges,” Dlamini said. Pursuant to their survey, Dlamini said her organisation discovered that the most affected region was Manzini. There were 15 schools from the Manzini Region, namely: Khuphuka; Inthuthuko; Thulwane; Ebaleni; Ekuthokozeni; Mgotjane and ESitjeni Primary Schools. Also, St Phillomena; Kholwane; Sgombeni Community;  Etjebovu; Nkanyezini; Mafutseni; St Joseph’s and Ekuphakameni Primary Schools.
There were also three  s from the Hhohho Region and they are: Msunduza; Malibeni and Ebuhleni Primary Schools while three schools were from the Shiselweni Region.
These are: Hlatikhulu; Ngwane Practising   and KaMzila Primary Schools. There was no school from the Lubombo Region.

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