4 SCHOOLS IN MANZINI REGION CLOSED INDEFINITELY

MANZINI – Four schools in the Manzini Region have been closed indefinitely.

These schools have been closed following that learners had in recent weeks, petitioned their administration with a variety of demands. They are Phumtile and Ngcoseni Central high schools in Mankayane, Moyeni High School at Mafutseni and Mvimbeko High School at Ntondozi. Phumtile High School was closed yesterday after pupils submitted a petition demanding, among other things, the release of the two incarcerated legislators – Hosea Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza and Ngwempisi Constituency MP Mthandeni Dube. The pupils were also said to have demanded, among other things, a better menu for the food provided by the school.

Learners

Meanwhile, Ngcoseni Central High School was closed after the pupils demanded responses to the petition they delivered last week Tuesday. In their petition, the learners had raised the issue of the shortage of teachers, especially in external classes and having cabbage in the menu. The pupils were said to have pelted stones and sticks, breaking some windows. It was said police officers were called and dispersed the pupils.

On the other hand, at Moyeni High School, the school was closed after the pupils continued with their class boycott, which they had started on Monday. Their grievances, among other things, were that the school was supposedly not availing adequate textbooks to the pupils despite that they paid a book fee of E800 for Form V pupils while Form I-III paid E1 200. The learners also registered a concern that the food provided in the school was not good for them.

On the other hand, Mvimbeko High School was closed a fortnight ago after pupils forced a meeting between parents and the Manzini Regional Education Officer (REO) Sizwe Kunene, to end abruptly as they attacked them. The school was closed after pupils boycotted classes and petitioned the administration, demanding that there should be a reduction in the number of strokes administered as corporal punishment. They claimed that they received over 20 strokes, which was too much for them as this thereafter required medical attention.

The REO confirmed that the four schools were closed indefinitely. He said they were still organising meetings with their guardians. Kunene said a meeting with the parents of pupils at Phumtile High School would be held today. At Moyeni High School, he said they had hoped that the pupils would resume classes yesterday; however, when they showed no interest in doing that, the head teacher was advised to close the school indefinitely. He said a meeting between the parents and his office would be scheduled soon, depending on the availability of resources.Kunene said it was the same case at Ngcoseni Central High School, as the meeting was to be scheduled shortly.

Meanwhile, at Mvimbeko High School, Kunene said they would give another meeting a chance on Friday, following what transpired last Wednesday. He further said, despite the disturbances caused by class boycotts, external examinations for Form V pupils were ongoing. The REO said at Mvimbeko, the pupils were continuing with their examinations while at Moyeni High School, there were no learners sitting for the external exams.

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