By Bahle Gama
The Ministry of Education and Training made a discovery that houses meant for teachers at Evelyn Baring Primary School are utilised by other civil servants from different ministries.
Minister Owen Nxumalo made this discovery during a visit to the school on Friday, July 12, 2024.
In an interview with Eswatini TV, Nxumalo said what is sad is that most of these teachers travel from far away and have ended up using the little they earn towards accommodation in the form of renting and bus fare when they could be using these houses.
“When talking to the MP we realised we need to come up with a programme that will ensure that teachers at the school get houses.
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We found that the houses available are being used by other civil servants who are not teachers at the school,” he reiterated.
He said the Regional Education Officer (REO) in conjunction with the Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry will work on the matter and find a solution to have the houses utilised by their rightful owners.
Nxumalo clarified that it will not be an eviction to the other civil servants residing in the houses per se, but the REO and PS will have to find alternative accommodation for them.
“Because it does not make sense that teachers will lack accommodation when houses have been built for them to utilise and save them the costs they are currently incurring,” Nxumalo said.
The Minister further disclosed that during the visit, it was discovered that the primary school has a shortage of classes.
This is due to the excellence and good leadership portrayed at the school.
He said the Ministry in conjunction with Micro Projects will strategise and add more classes to reduce the ‘overcrowding’.
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“We are noting that Nhlangano is made up of a large community and everyone even those from outside the town want their children to be enrolled at the school hence the classes that are to the brim,” he said.
Nxumalo further stated that a team would be sent to the school for a detailed assessment to find out the exact number of classes that will have to be added at the school.
Over the years, Evelyn Baring Primary is one of the schools that have made headlines for having parents spending nights in the open at the school in an attempt to secure places for their children.
