48 START GRADE I AT MAPHIVENI PRIMARY

MBABANE – At least 48 pupils started their Grade I class at Maphiveni Primary School yesterday.

This was made possible by the collaborative efforts between the Deputy Prime Minister’s (DPM) Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Lubombo Regional Administrator’s (RA) Office, who ensured that the pupils acquire personal identification numbers (PIN). According to Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo, the pupils had not been able to attend school because of the long distance between their homes and the nearest schools.

Parents

Nxumalo said the pupils’ parents were seasonal workers who could not afford the E20 bus fare every day. He stated that other pupils did not have PINs. However, due to collaborative efforts between aforementioned partners, the pupils had since been given PINs. Nxumalo stated that Microprojects did a sterling job in rehabilitating the structure, which they used for classes, within two months. Adding, he said the Ministry of Education and Training also ensured that there were other facilities, teachers and stationery. “Currently, there is one Grade I teacher and a head teacher. The ministry will hire a second one so that the class of 48 can be divided into two,” Nxumalo said. Furthermore, Nxumalo mentioned that their partners, the United Nations Population Fund International (UNFPA) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) had offered financial assistance. “UNICEF will give them shoes and school bags, while UNFPA will pay school fees and bus fares for the high school dropouts,” he said.

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