Ministry says no to stokvels –ESSA
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MBABANE – Warning! The Eswatini Schools Sports Association (ESSA) through President Zakhele Myeni said the Ministry of Education and Training had warned schools from participating in competitions not under the ESSA banner. Myeni said the ministry made this statement during the courtesy visit of the Confederation of School Sports Associations of Southern Africa (COSSASA) President Arthur Maphosa from Zimbabwe and his Secretary General (SG) Letsweletse Jonas from Botswana last week.
“We went to visit the ministry to introduce the COSSASA president and a number of issues were discussed, but the striking one was when the ministry warned schools from participating in unorganised competitions as we are heading to athletics soon,” Myeni said.
He said the ministry made it clear that associations that wanted to engage schools in their competitions should contact ESSA before involving the institutions.
“We said that the associations should sign memorandums of understanding with us so that should they want to engage schools, we can inform the ministry for an authority. In short, the ministry said no stokvels for schools,” he added.
Meanwhile, he also revealed that ESSA will hold a workshop for all the country’s schools sports teachers at Mphophoma in Malkerns.
“We urge schools to send as many as teachers they can as we have facilitators for almost all the sporting codes, such as volleyball, soccer, netball and athletics,”
He said the sports teachers would have two sessions; a theory and practical to be done on the fields. He further revealed that each teacher would have to pay E980 for accommodation, the lessons and meals.