Home | News | SNAT, GOVT CLASH OVER TODAY’S TEACHERS’ DAY

SNAT, GOVT CLASH OVER TODAY’S TEACHERS’ DAY

Font size: Decrease font Enlarge font

MBABANE – Teachers are expected in class today. While teachers will be commemorating World Teachers’ Day at the Bosco Skills Centre today, the Ministry of Education and Training has reminded all teachers that today is a normal working day. As a result, the ministry expects all teachers and pupils to be at school and observe their normal working hours.


This was through a public notice issued by the ministry’s Principal Secretary, Bertram Stewart, yesterday.
The notice was to the effect that the ministry was cognisant of the fact that teachers were enthusiastic to commemorate their special day. However, Stewart said as it was stated before, the day could not be held on a normal working day.


“Teachers are free to commemorate the day on any other day other than a day when they are supposed to be helping pupils write or get ready to write their examinations,” he said.


He further mentioned that this was a critical period for pupils, and for that reason all stakeholders in education should grab every opportunity to ensure the realisation of the goals set at the beginning of the year.


Support


The PS urged parents, on behalf of the ministry, to play their part and ensure that pupils attended class as expected today. Stewart added his appreciation on the support of both teachers and parents as children got ready for the end of year examinations.
On the other hand, Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini said come rain or shine, the event would take place.


“We are expecting about 5 000 teachers and there will be a symposium and discussion of a theme,” Dlamini said.
He went on state that the association forwarded a letter to the ministry on October 10, 2019, informing them about the event. He expressed his shock on the last minute notice which he said was released at the 11th hour.


He expressed that this was nothing new as it had always happened in the past.
Dlamini echoed that the association was part of the global family of over 30 million educators from 401 organisations. He articulated that everyone was commemorating this day because it talked to the professional issues of teachers.


He highlighted that in the past, the association had festivities to celebrate their day. However, he said this year would be a bit different as there would be none.
It is worth noting that even last year, teachers were stopped from commemorating their event. 

Comments (0 posted):

Post your comment comment

Please enter the code you see in the image: