‘‘†Food predicament as schools reopen ’”‡†‹…ƒ‡–

MBABANE – As schools will be opening tomorrow, some might open without food for their feeding schemes known as Zondle.

Schools were supposed to re-open last Monday but they were postponed by the Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza in a press conference held on Sunday last week. The minister said the decision to postpone or extend the mid-term break was meant to allow teachers and learners more days to rest.

While preparing for the re-opening of schools, some head teachers raised concerns that they might still be facing the same predicament of shortages of food in their schools. The issue of food shortages has been a challenge in the schools as some head teachers reportedly opted to release pupils earlier than the normal time. The head teachers said such a decision was taken because some learners failed to cope without having eaten anything. As a result of the food challenges in the schools, some learners were reportedly bunking classes. Some schools were reportedly surviving through sour porridge.

One of the head teachers in the Shiselweni Region who asked not to be named, said they were in the second month without food. The head teacher said they were hoping government would deliver food soon, otherwise learning would be difficult, more especially to those learners who came from less privileged homes. She said some learners were relying on the schools feeding scheme as there was not enough food in their various homes.

Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training Bhekithemba Gama said so far schools were ready to open tomorrow. He said he had not received any reports from the Regional Education Officers (REO) to indicate otherwise.

On the issues of food, the PS said it was true that some schools might open tomorrow without food as the delivering would start today, so it would be impossible to deliver to all schools in the same day. Gama said the whole of this week food would be delivered in the schools countrywide.