Government has issued 1 273 posting letters for contract teachers, renewing their contracts for a further two years.
Teachers gathered at the Mater Dolorosa High School hall to collect their posting letters, which they are required to submit to their respective schools and regional education offices.
In line with their contract agreements, the teachers’ contracts were renewed for a two-year period, effective from January 27 to December 2027.
A total of 1 273 teachers had their contracts renewed.
Of these, 392 were primary school teachers under Grade B5. There were also 586 Secondary Teacher I posts under Grade C4, 231 Secondary Teacher IV posts under Grade C3, and 58 Secondary Teacher I posts under Grade C5 that were renewed. In addition, the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) renewed six vocational instructor posts under Grade C3 and one lecturer post under salary Grade E2.
TSC Deputy Executive Secretary Sindi Tembe said the renewal of contracts was conducted in accordance with numbers provided by government. She said the 1 273 contracts included both primary and secondary school teachers.
She added that, during the renewal process, consideration was given to whether a school still required a particular teacher.
She explained that contracts were renewed in groups to allow the commission to consider declarations from headteachers. Where a teacher’s contract was not renewed at a specific school, the TSC may renew the contract and place the teacher at another school where there is a need.
“There are cases where teachers are moved from their previous schools and placed in others depending on the needs of the headteacher. For example, if there is an oversupply of English and history teachers but a shortage of mathematics and science teachers, adjustments are made accordingly,” she said.
Tembe added that the commission also checked whether teachers were teaching the required number of periods.
She urged teachers to conduct themselves professionally, stating that professionalism begins at college level. She noted that the TSC strongly opposed teacher-learner relationships, adding that such conduct was unacceptable for both contract and permanently employed teachers.
“They should behave. Most of the cases we handle involve absenteeism. We are not saying teachers should not fall sick, but they must report and submit medical certificates. Some teachers disappear without notice, while others report for duty under the influence of alcohol. There are also cases of teachers engaging in relationships with people’s spouses, which leads to conflict and affects their welfare,” she said.
She added that such behaviour often results in the transfer of contract teachers. Tembe also said some contract teachers were disrespectful towards headteachers.
While acknowledging the role of unions, she emphasised that teachers must adhere to existing policies and that disrespect towards headteachers would not be condoned.
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Meanwhile, Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary General Lot Vilakati said the union was present to monitor the distribution of posting letters. He confirmed that more than 1 200 teachers had collected their posting letters.
Vilakati described the exercise as exhausting and painful, noting that some teachers had been engaged on contract for more than 10 years.
He said many of these teachers continued to be posted at the same schools, teaching the same subjects with the same qualifications.
“These are qualified teachers. This exercise feels like torture,” he said, adding that SNAT was monitoring the process to ensure there was no bullying of its members, as the exercise had previously been associated with such complaints.
“We are also here to assist teachers with queries and expect the TSC to respond promptly. We want all teachers, especially high school teachers, to receive their posting letters today, as there is limited time,” he said.
Vilakati said the union did not expect complaints regarding headteachers recommending against contract renewals, stressing that schools do not belong to headteachers.
He claimed that contract teachers had long been victimised by headteachers but said that era should now be over.
“If there are teachers who have not received their posting letters, they should contact the SNAT office. Any teacher who was humiliated should also report the matter. Non-members are encouraged to join the association so that we can defend them. Our core mandate is to defend job security, negotiate terms and conditions of service, and salaries,” he said.
