Teachers divided over schools reopening
MBABANE – As the uncertainty over the reopening of schools continues, teachers are seemingly divided.
This is because while some are in support of the reopening, there are others who are not for the idea.
The teachers who are not in favour of the reopening of schools have actually accused the Swaziland National Association of Teachers ( SNAT) of taking decisions without consulting them.
This comes after the association called for the immediate reopening of schools and tertiary institutions.
Compliance
This was through a statement issued last week where the organisation said the reopening should be done in full compliance with the COVID- 19 protocols and safety standards.
The statement was issued by Secretary General ( SG) Sikelela Dlamini, who highlighted that the SNAT collective was mindful of the threat that the COVID- 19 pandemic had presented to humanity in recent times.
“As the SNAT, we therefore make a clarion call on government as follows; that all schools and tertiary institutions must be reopened immediately with full compliance to the COVID- 19 protocols and safety standards,” the SG said in the statement. During separate interviews with this publication, the teachers who are not for the idea said they were of the view that with the increase in the number of people testing positive for COVID- 19, it did not make sense to reopen schools.
“We are not impressed by the leaders who now choose to make statements without consulting. This issue of demanding schools to reopen in the midst of a high COVID- 19 infection rate and political instability is just an insult,” one of the teachers said. She alleged that when they tried to enquire from the SNAT executive, they were informed that this was merely an attempt to force government to vaccinate teachers.
“The question t hen i s why didn’t they just request the vaccination?” the teacher asked.
Another teacher decried that their stand and voices were not heard on the matter.
“We were not consulted. Please note that the secretary general, who is demanding schools to reopen is not teaching so he wakes up in the morning, gets bored and makes decisions,” she claimed.
However, t his publication sought views from other teachers and they said they supported the idea to reopen as they felt the pupils were missing out.
“We want the schools to reopen. In fact government should at least open Form III and V. The truth is that we are not the same, some are enjoying the holidays at the expense of the children,” said one of the teachers.
Another teacher said when the schools were closed, a lot was left hanging and that there was a lot that needed to be done.
“Also, the issue of online learning is not working for community schools. I
must also state that the last time schools opened, there were no reports of pupils dying from COVID- 19. As teachers we tried by all means to be cautious and have fewer numbers of pupils in the class,” she said.
When the secretary general was called for comment, he acknowledged that people were bound to have differing views.
“I think people at times do not look at things holistically. We talked about safe reopening and we stand by that. There is a difference between a reopening and a safe reopening. The safe reopening is accompanied by a demand to have teachers vaccinated,” he said.
Petition
Dlamini made reference to a petition which SNAT successfully delivered to the Office of the PM on Tuesday June 22, 2021, and chief among the demands t hat were presented was t he call for the vaccination of all educators against COVID- 19.
Commenting further on the division, Dlamini said those who were against the reopening should consider the fact that employees in other departments also returned to work.
He also said if schools remained closed, it would be hard for SNAT to push the agenda of ensuring that government renewed contracts for teachers.
On another note, Dlamini shared that SNAT had received communication from the principal secretary in the PM’s Office acknowledging receipt of the letter and further confirming that the demands were being deliberated upon by Cabinet.
Also, Dlamini said the PS said SNAT would be invited to a roundtable meeting sometime this week to discuss the demands.
It should be noted that last week, it was expected that Cabinet was to meet and decide if schools would reopen this week.
The meeting was scheduled for last Friday, however, there were no reports of it having taken place.
The meeting had been confirmed by Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza, who said she had filed an official requests to Cabinet for the reopening of schools.
Deputy Prime Minister ( DPM) Themba Masuku, who was acting PM, announced the prompt closure of schools on June 30 due to the rise in infection numbers of COVID- 19 and the recent political unrest in the country.
Meanwhile, when sought for comment on the issue of the reopening of schools yesterday, Minister Mabuza said they were still at consultative stage with the stakeholders and nothing had been concluded in that regard.