Pupils who feel old enough should just quit - PAC chair
MBABANE - “Pupils who feel they are old enough to join politics should rather leave school and seek jobs as opposed to depriving innocent pupils of their right to education.”
This was a statement made by Public Account Committee (PAC) Chairman Musa Kunene on national radio yesterday.
Kunene said government was losing a lot of money in rehabilitating structures, which were intentionally burnt by pupils who decided to join politics.
He said at times, parents contributed hard earned money towards the construction of the schools. Worth noting is that pupils in some schools had engaged in protests, where they demanded, among other things, the release of the two incarcerated Members of Parliament.
When asked about the demand for the release of the MPs by the pupils, Kunene stated that politics were beyond pupils. He advised that pupils should concentrate on their studies as opposed to joining politics.
Politics
“If pupils feel they are old enough to be at school, they should leave the institution and seek jobs. They should consider the right of the other pupils who want to focus on their studies. School is not meant for politics but for learning,” he said.
The legislator further advised that pupils should use the right channels such as engaging their prefects, head boys and head girls to voice out their concerns as opposed to protests. He appealed to head teachers and school committees to assist in identifying the culprits.
Interviewed parents concurred with Kunene. Khumbulani Ngwenya said there was no anger that could drive pupils to burn property. Ngwenya said it was unfortunate that the majority of the pupils who caused chaos in schools were not doing well in class. He said the majority were jealous of the capable pupils, hence the disturbance.
“It is unfortunate that the most vocal pupils are the ones who are not doing well in class. They are likely to join those who can’t even read the first page of the Constitution and the gazette in future,” he said.
Experience
Ngwenya mentioned that experience had taught him that life was not good without a qualification.
“If they no longer want to be in class, they should seek jobs instead of disturbing the innocent pupils,” he said.
Another parent who preferred anonymity said in as much as Kunene’s statement was good to some extent; there was a need to properly address the issue before it got out of hand. The parent stated that the best way to deal with the issue would be to involve school committees, chiefs, parents, pupils and the police.
“I think there is s need to set up a committee that will include a school representative, chief’s representative, parents, police officers so that the pupils can be afforded an opportunity to state why they are protesting in schools. The pupils should state before the committee if they really want to be at school or not before a decision can be taken. What is happening in the country’s schools is unacceptable,” said the parent.
Buhlebencwala Fakudze felt that chiefs could play a crucial role in bringing order. Fakudze said Eswatini culture provided that every person paid tribute to a chief. He said chiefs knew their subjects better than the teachers who were hired to educate pupils.
“I think there is a need to register all pupils in every community so that when they burn property they are is held accountable. I think the registration can play a crucial role in identifying the people who leave their communities just to be a menace in other places. There is no person without a chief in the country,” he said.