While pupils and parents alike are excited to head back to school, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) raised serious concerns about the readiness of schools to open.
The association cited storm damage caused by prolonged rains and a shortage of teachers that could compromise effective teaching and learning.
SNAT Secretary General Lot Vilakati claimed that several schools across the country were still struggling to recover from the recent storms, which damaged school infrastructure and access roads.
He said some schools may not be able to conduct lessons on the first day of opening due to the impact of the severe weather conditions.
Vilakati said while the opening of schools was welcomed, the reality on the ground showed that not all schools were adequately prepared.
“There are schools that will be unable to teach on the first day because of the storms. In some areas, classrooms were damaged and roads leading to schools are still not fully accessible,” he said.
One of the major challenges highlighted by SNAT was the issue of teachers whose contracts had not been renewed.
Vilakati warned that this situation could result in a shortage of teachers at a critical time when learners were expected to resume classes.
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“On another note, the issue of contracts not being renewed means that by this time there will be no teachers in some schools, which compromises smooth learning,” he said.
He described the matter of contract teachers as a ‘thorny issue’ that needed urgent attention from the Ministry of Education and Training.
Vilakati said the absence of contract teachers put additional pressure on the remaining staff, potentially leading to overcrowded classrooms and reduced quality of education.
He stressed that resolving the contract issue was essential to ensure stability and continuity in the education system.
Vilakati also urged parents to play their part by ensuring that their children were properly prepared for school.
He appealed to parents to make it a priority to buy school uniforms for their children, noting that learner preparedness contributes to discipline and effective learning.
At the same time, he called on government to ensure that all necessary payments to schools were made on time.
“Government must pay in time for the smooth running of schools,” he said, adding that delays in funding often affect daily operations and the availability of essential learning materials.
Another unresolved concern raised by SNAT was the implementation of the Competency-Based Education (CBE) curriculum.
Vilakati said teachers remained in the dark about what to teach due to a lack of retraining, particularly at primary and high school levels.
“CBE is also not resolved; teachers have not been retrained. This leaves them uncertain about what exactly they are expected to teach,” he said.
He stated that without proper training and guidance, the successful implementation of the curriculum would remain a challenge.
