By Ncaba Ntshakala
Deputy Prime Minister Thulisile Dladla has cautioned head teachers and teachers who have been sending vulnerable learners home due to unpaid school fees.
Speaking at the launch of the Day of the African Child, themed “Inclusive, quality and transformative education for all children in Eswatini: the time is now,” Dladla emphasized that schools are meant to serve learners, parents, and the nation, not the teachers.
The launch event was held at the UN House in Mbabane with various organization present which includes World Vision Eswatini, SWANCEFA, UN Agencies, Bantwana and many others.
Dladla assured that her office had committed to settling the school fees earlier this year and urged educators to refrain from chasing away studentsas they are working on paying.
“Letikolwa atisito tabo labothishela labacosha bantfwana ngekutsi asikabhadali. Nyalo nje bengikhuluma na Accountant General e Treasury kutsi sesitobhadala masinyane,” she declared.
During the month of June 2024, designated as Children’s Month, a series of activities will culminate in the commemoration of the Day of the African Child on June 19th.
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These activities include dialogues in selected schools across all regions to foster discussions about the needs and challenges faced by children.
In her speech, Dladla emphasized the significance of Children’s Month, a tradition initiated by the Eswatini government in 2007 to demonstrate its commitment to children’s welfare.
She expressed the nation’s view of children as its future and highlighted the importance of investing in children’s services as the country aspires to attain ‘First World’ status.
“Investment in children’s services and discussions on how access to quality, inclusive education can be realized in the country may be viewed as a major area of focus,” she said.
Aligning with the 2024 theme from the African Union and the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC), Dladla emphasized the critical need for education that is inclusive, lifelong, and relevant.
She explained the localized Eswatini theme, emphasizing the government’s concern with creating child-friendly environments in all schools, ensuring no child is left behind, especially those with disabilities.
The Deputy Prime Minister addressing the gaps in the education system referred to a 2022 report by the Ministry of Education & Training on Transforming Education.
The report identified key priorities such as recovering education losses due to Covid-19, transforming teaching and learning approaches by digitizing the curriculum, improving education quality through a skills-based curriculum, and transforming education financing to extend free primary education and find alternative ways to finance tertiary education.
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Dladla called for a collective effort from all education stakeholders, including parents, teachers, communities, civil society organizations, and international partners, to transform the education system.
She urged parents to participate actively in their children’s education and welfare, emphasizing the government’s dedication to addressing children’s issues promptly, as inspired by His Majesty’s Nkwe call.
Dladla also spoke about the establishment of the Child Toll Free line (116) in 2022. The line provides a safe space for children to voice their challenges, and the cases received are referred to relevant stakeholders for attention.
She reflected on her personal observations of the challenges faced by children noted the encouraging cooperation between the government and other stakeholders in providing timely interventions.
She mentioned the successful Maphiveni intervention, where over a hundred children were assisted to attend school despite various challenges.
As part of the activities leading up to the Day of the African Child, dialogues will be conducted in selected schools across all regions to hear children’s suggestions on addressing education challenges.
An education Indaba will also be held to discuss how education in Eswatini can be transformed.
Dladla further encouraged every liSwati child to prioritize education, highlighting its far-reaching benefits for individual and national development.
“We are determined to make the education experience of every liSwati child a productive experience that will contribute to the economic development of the country,” she affirmed.
