PARENTS’ PETITION AGAINST SNAT’S LGBTQI+ CALL

MBABANE – Some parents have issued an online petition against a decision by SNAT to endorse LGBTQI+ community practices in schools.

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) made the statement in November last year. The parents said SNAT had suggested to them to accept the transgender regime.
The transgender regime is the stage where any individual is uncertain of their sexuality.The concerned parents argued that SNAT was promoting such practices among their children.
One of the concerned parents alleged that SNAT was in the process of introducing such a curriculum at primary school level. She alleged that the union wanted to teach their children, from the age of four, about transgender. She alleged that SNAT’s actions were against culture and religion and not aligned with marriage guidelines. She, however, acknowledged having such children in society, which she said, was a condition that needed to be addressed. The parent said that did not mean they should accept or endorse it.

Condition

“People with such a condition need medical help. To me, transgender is something we copied from other countries, and now we want to instill it in our children. Such a practice is against our beliefs,” said the parent. She said SNAT had no power to take decisions, pertaining to their children, on their behalf. The aggrieved woman said SNAT’s mandate was to look at the affairs of teachers, who formed part of the union and not that of learners. She then alleged that SNAT once highlighted that transgender children were being discriminated against by their peers at school. She wanted to know from the union, whether it was true that children with abnormal behaviours were going through any form of racial segregation.

“According to me, gender is something private. SNAT needs to come clear to the public and explain where such children are experiencing discrimination.” The parent, however, disputed that the transgender pupils had difficulties accessing basic services, like any other human being. “I have not seen these children suffering discrimination,” she said. She advised SNAT to engage parents when dealing with issues of their children, since they were an important stakeholder. She said parents had a huge role to play in the upbringing of their child.

Stakeholders

“I also feel SNAT needs to engage other stakeholders, such as the Ministry of Education and Training, before taking any decision,” she said. On the other hand, SNAT Secretary General (SG) Lot Vilakati acknowledged having seen the online petition. He, however, said they discovered that a majority of online petition drivers were foreigners. Vilakati said SNAT was governed by a constitution established in 2012. “The union has two articles enshrined in the constitution. Article 6.4 says SNAT is going to combat discrimination, based on gender, social status, health, religion and political affiliation. Article 6.5 also says the union is going to combat sexual harassment of teachers and pupils,” said Vilakati.

He further said: “ Article 7.5 states that SNAT is guided by ideas of democracy, human rights, and social justice. It also states that SNAT is not going to interfere in personal affairs of each member and shall respect personal opinion and freedom of the individual,” he said. The SNAT SG said they had a gender and human rights office, specifically on any form of gender issues, could it be pupils or teachers. He said parents were part of the office. He said they worked closely with parents on issues affecting pupils. According to Vilakati, a conference was held, where a decision was taken to endorse the establishment of a gender policy, as a way of addressing all gender related issues in the country.

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