DIVISION OVER REMOVAL OF EDUCATION PS

MBABANE – There are mixed feelings over the removal of Dr Sibongile Mtshali as Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training.

This is because stakeholders in the education sector have expressed varying views on the removal of Mtshali in a reshuffle, which was announced at Cabinet by Prime Minister Ambrose Mandvulo Dlamini on Saturday. According to an article published by our sister publication the Times SUNDAY, Government Spokesperson Percy Simelane released a statement that Mtshali, together with former Home Affairs PS Anthony Masilela, were not mentioned in the reshuffle and an announcement to that effect was to be made shortly. 

 Eswatini Schools Administrators’ Siphasha Dlamini said the reshuffling was abrupt.
“The reshuffling was so soon. As teachers we always prefer to work with someone who understands the issues on the ground,” Dlamini said.
She went on to state that as an association, they were of the view that Mtshali who is a teacher by profession, would deliver in the long run. Dlamini further stated that it was public knowledge that the issue of redeployment of PSs did not require voting. Nonetheless, she said she believed that the authorities that effected the reshuffle had their own reasons.

On the other hand, Eswatini Principals Association President Welcome Mhlanga requested not to comment on the issue. He stated that he welcomed the reshuffle because the former PS’s authorities had seen it fit to remove her.
“Can I not comment on this issue for reasons best known to me,” Mhlanga said.

Joy

Some teachers who requested to comment on condition of anonymity, expressed their joy on the redeployment of the former education PS. They stated that her removal from her post was long overdue and that they were not satisfied with the manner in which she worked with teachers. They alleged that Mtshali did not advocate for the welfare of teachers.

 Meanwhile, an audio recording of a woman singing praises about the reshuffling of Mtshali has been circulating on social media platform WhatsApp. The audio is of a woman who expresses that Mtshali’s departure was a blessing as they were no longer going to cry.

When sought for comment on what the former PSs were expected to do, and when their new positions would be announced, the Government Spokesperson, Simelane, said these were civil servants who knew who to consult if there was something they wanted to be clear about regarding their next move and when to submit their handover notes.

He reiterated that he was not aware of any date of announcement regarding their redeployment.
Meanwhile, during delivery of a  petition by head teachers to the PS recently, they had met her through a locked gate.
The head teachers took offence on being barred from entering their ‘place of employment.’

Post your comment

Your name:

Your e-mail address:

Add your comments:

Please enter the code you see in the image:

Image:

Code: