Minister warns head teachers, school committees, parents
MBABANE – Minister of Education and Training Owen Nxumalo has warned head teachers, school committees and parents against taking decisions as if they owned schools in the country.
Nxumalo was responding to allegations that a head teacher in one of the schools situated in the Manzini Region had refused to write a letter for a parent who wanted his children to be enrolled for the orphaned and vulnerable children (O9C) grant at the 'eputy 3rime Minister’s Office.
The letter from the school is crucial, as it serves as proof that the pupil existed before they could be considered for the grant.
Interview
,n an interview with the Eswatini %roadcasting and ,nformation 6ervice (E%,6), the parent alleged that the head teacher openly refused to write him the letter. *Musa shared that the head teacher reTuested that he paid the remaining balance from last year’s fees before he could write him the letter.
³, tried to explain that the '3M was specific about the deadline, which she said was today (yesterday) but the head teacher maintained his stance. The letter from the school is very crucial in the sense that it serves as proof that the children exists in the school,” he said.
He stated that he went to the school after having reasoned with the royal kraal, which was also reTuired to write a letter as proof of residence.
$t first, he said the inner council was reluctant to write him the letter before he got the one from the school. However, he stated that the inner council wrote him the letter pending negotiations with the school.
³, am confused on what to do because the head teacher wants the remaining balance from last year’s fees before he can write me the letter,” he said.
To this, Minister Nxumalo said the act of the head teacher was a clear demonstration that he did as he pleased, as if he owned the school.
The minister said the head teacher’s action was tantamount to defying the '3M, who called upon all O9Cs who needed deposits to register with her office.
³Who is the '3M that a head teacher may decide to defy her call" Head teachers do not own schools, but they are hired to manage school funds. We are yet to visit the school to ascertain the truth of the matter. This is criminal if the allegations are true,” Nxumalo said.
The minister said parents should get help whenever they approached schools.
Nxumalo also advised parents to report their hardships to the Regional Education Office. He said even though the procedure reTuired that all structures must be exhausted, parents should call him if they did not get help from the relevant structures.
Fees
Nxumalo was asked about the need for top-up fees, which had been a thorn for many years. He said to the best of his knowledge, schools were allowed to apply for the approval of top-up fees before implementing them. He said there were certain things that the ministry looked into before approving the top-up fees.
He said he was alive to the fact that some head teachers, school committees and parents took resolutions without involving the ministry.
³These people do not own schools, so they cannot take resolutions to the detriment of other parents and pupils. The ministry must be involved before any resolution is taken. Head teachers, school committees and parents cannot agree to withhold results for owing pupils because they do not own schools,” he said.
“Sitamhlola lothishela,” he added, meaning they will check on the head teacher.