Govt to pay FPE, OVC grants on Monday – PS

…………All set for schools opening as distribution of food in schools in progress- PS

By Thokozani Mazibuko

The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training Naniki Mnisi has
pointed out that all is set for the reopening of schools on Tuesday as they will be
distributing food in schools beginning from today, while FPE and OVC grants will be
paid on tomorrow.

According to Mnisi, the ministry will begin distributing food in schools as early as
Monday.

She mentioned this was because procedurally, they normally delivered food in schools
when schools reopen as opposed to delivering it prior, since they required man power
during the delivery of the food and for storage purposes, since it might get spoiled if it
was to be distributed before the pupils report to school.

She pointed out that when it comes to the payment of the Free Primary Education (FPE)
and the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVC) grants, all was in order as they have
undertaken all the necessary due processes that needs to be followed for the money to
be released and all that was left now was for the treasurer’s office to start disbursing the
funds as early as Tuesday.

The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General (SG) Lot
Vilakati confirmed that they had a meeting with the ministry on Friday as SNAT
regarding the readiness of school reopening, where they were assured that the process
of distributing food in schools will commence on Monday and that the disbursement of
the FPE and the OVC grants will be taking place as early as Tuesday.

However, he said as SNAT, they were displeased by such an arrangement. He stated
that primarily, the distribution of food in schools should commence at least two weeks
before the reopening of schools.

This, he said, was because distribution of food in schools at the eleventh hour resulted
in some pupils doing practical and writing exams on empty stomachs.

He mentioned that the late payment of the OVC and FPE grants made it difficult for
head teachers to run schools.

He made an example that when it comes to the issue of the payment of the FPE and
OVC grants, officials from the ministry will allegedly make a public announcement that 2
000 schools have received the money, only to find that, only 900 school would be paid.

“We expect that the preparations of schools reopening should be done at least two
weeks before the actual opening because at the end of the day, it is the Liswati child
who ends up suffering,” he said.

Meanwhile, schools will be reopening tomorrow for the third term. This comes after the
Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, postponed the school opening date

to tomorrow, shifting it from the original date of September 9, 2025, to allow pupils to
participate in and for the smooth conclusion of the Umhlanga Reed Dance ceremony.