Some parents don’t mind signing consent forms
MBABANE - “Let us sign.”
The above sentiments were relayed by some parents who said they did not mind signing consent forms for their children to attend classes.
This comes after it was confirmed that only pupils with signed consent forms would be allowed back to class.
This follows that regional education officers (REOs), Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) and the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) met with senior officials of the Ministry of Education and Training last Thursday to formulate a way forward regarding the reopening of schools.
The interviewed parents said they did not have a problem signing the forms as long as their children were at school, learning and possibly safe from any harm. The parents mentioned that they had been signing consent forms and there was no harm in doing so now.
Disagree
“I know other parents will disagree with me, but the truth is consent forms do not change anything or the quality of the education received by the learner. I’m ready to sign the forms,” said Nok’phila Dlamini, a parent to three high school pupils.
Another parent said the situation in the country was tricky and everyone was caught up in the moment. “If you look at this, there is nothing wrong with consent forms, but since the country is going through political unrest, everyone has an opinion,” said a parent.
Subsequent to the meeting, head teachers received a message from REOs informing them that the ministry asked them to encourage schools to hold parents’ meetings to discuss logistics of reopening schools and also come up with strategies on how they would ensure safety and security of personnel and property.
The consent form is in two parts wherein one part is a parental consent.
In this segment, it reads: “By law it is required that children under the age of eighteen should provide written consent from their parents or guardians to participate or enter into contracts or agreements by whatever name called.”
Liable
Another parent, Simile Bhembe, said he would sign the form because he wanted to make sure that his child was held liable for his behavior at school.
Bhembe said with the situation in the country, as parents they needed to make sure their children knew where to draw the line.
“The form could be the right tool to make sure that my child is behaving and knows the consequences if he gets up to no good,” said Bhembe.
Meanwhile, other parents were not for the consent form idea and said that it was antagonising.
The parents were of the view that the forms were made to instil fear in both parents and pupils.
“Why are we signing forms? The ministry should just open schools and allow children to fight for whatever they believe is within their rights,” said the parent.
Another parent said government was just stalling and shunning away from the actual problem.
“The government seemingly has money to waste. How will it be able to print so many forms to be signed and where are these forms going to be kept?” wondered one parent.
In a previous interview with this publication, Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza said only pupils with signed consent forms would be allowed back into their respective schools when the reopening dates had been determined by government. The consent forms are to be signed by parents and pupils.
The ministry’s Principal Secretary, Bhekithemba Gama, said they were yet to meet and discuss costs of the whole consent form exercise.
Relevant
Gama mentioned that tomorrow they were going to meet with relevant stakeholders to find a way forward.
“Nothing has been finalised yet, we are yet to meet and discuss a way forward, negative energy and response to this was expected, but we will find a way,” said Gama.
SNAT Secretary General (SG) Sikelela Dlamini urged parents to be broad-minded in their discussions on this matter during their convened meetings at their respective schools this week.
In a fresh interview, he mentioned that as an organisation, they did not approve of the form and felt it was a way of instilling fear.
He said parents should voice their discontent during their meetings to ensure that government knows about their concerns.
“We will not approve of the form because government is instilling fear in both parents and pupils. We have not met with the ministry to talk about this but we do know it is a bad idea altogether.”
Meanwhile EPA SG Mduduzi Masilela said they were unaware of the consent forms and, therefore, could not comment or say anything further on the matter.