Ministry sends inspectors to WEM
MBABANE – The Ministry of Education and Training has sent inspectors to WEM School, following concerns that were raised by some parents and teachers.
The private-owned high school located at Sidvokodvo in the Manzini Region made headlines last year, after pupils abandoned classes and staged a riot over several issues that were left unresolved in the school.
Last year September 26, the school suspended teaching and learning as some learners boycotted classes, as they raised concerns over their welfare.
The learners, in the process, allegedly threw furniture into the school yard and pelted some of the school windows with stone. Some of the welfare concerns that were raised by the pupils included security within the school. Some learners alleged that they were almost raped.
Adding to the challenges was the state of the school’s hostels, bathrooms and showers, which they said were non-functional and had dilapidated. There were also concerns about the meals that were served at the school’s hostel.
Riots
Following last year’s riots, some parents took their children to other schools, while those who took their children back to WEM form part of those who were said to have lodged complaints about the deplorable state of the school.
Even after the chaos that erupted last year, parents and learners, who spoke to this reporter on condition of anonymity, said the situation was worse as nothing had been fixed in the school. The parents lamented that they paid huge amounts in school and hostel fees, but they were surprised to learn about the hardships their children endured in the school. WEM School is one of the schools that was known for its outstanding Matric results and was listed among the high end private schools in the country. The parents said they pay E3 400 hostel fees, which is separate from the school fees. This means parents pay E10 300 in hostel fees annually. They further pay E6 600 school fees during the first term, E5 500 second and third term. This means parents pay E17 600 for school fees. Parents who have children living in the school hostel pay E27 900 annually. Some of the interviewed parents claimed they were worried and unhappy about the state of the school yet they paid a lot of money.
Firstly, some of the pupils alleged that the school did not have enough teachers.
“There are only a few teachers who teach all grades from Grade IX to XII. If you can’t understand any of the available teachers, you are in trouble,” said one of the affected parties.
Secondly, they stated that the school did not have textbooks. The parents said they were surprised to learn that their children had to make plans on their own to have textbooks, yet they were made to understand that the school provided these.
Another pupil decried the conditions in the school’s hostel.
“Surely health inspectors would shut down the hostel if they could come and conduct inspections.” It was disclosed that the hostel had spider webs all over. They added that taking a bath at the hostel was a struggle because some showers were not working and they had to share one toilet.
Empty
Further, they raised concerns about the food that was served at the hostel. The source stated that sometimes the borders went to class on empty stomachs because they sometimes missed breakfast.
When the pupils tried to talk to the schools management or staff about their concerns, the source said the pupils were victimised.
Efforts to get the school to comment on the matter were futile. Phone calls that were made to the school head teacher never went through as his cellphone was unavailable. The school administration clerk was also contacted but said she was not at school and gave us a number of a person whom she said would be in a better position to respond.
The teacher was contacted and referred this reporter to the school’s head teacher. Before the reporter could finish her introduction and why she had called the school, the supposed head teacher declined to comment. A male voice on the other side was heard asking why they didn’t ask the person who gave them the number to comment. She eventually hung up.
Confirmed
Meanwhile, Manzini Regional Education Officer (REO) Sizwe Kunene confirmed that the office received several concerns about the school’s conditions. Kunene said following the concerns that were raised by learners and parents, the ministry sent inspectors to the school.
“I can confirm that the school was not in a good condition,” he said.
Kunene mentioned that quite a number of issues that were raised were uncovered by the inspectors. The REO asked not to disclose the findings because they were still in the process of preparing a report, which would be submitted to the office of the director of schools.
Kunene was asked what would happen to the learners in the school in the meantime that they were busy with the report since the school kept on admitting pupils. He was also asked what would happen to the learners should the director of schools decide to shut it down.
The REO said he wouldn’t want to pre-empt the outcomes because it would be based on the report. “May I not jump the gun, I can confirm that inspectors were sent to WEM and the findings are not good,” he said.