The Teaching Service Commission (TSC) has embarked on a major shake-up of headteachers in schools around Mbabane, reassigning them in a move aimed at reigniting their zeal to perform.
According to TSC Chairman Dr Amos Mahlalela, the exercise is intended to bring schools in the Mbabane urban area at par in terms of academic performance.
He said the commission had observed disparities in performance among schools, with some performing exceptionally well while others continued to lag behind. Mahlalela said the TSC visited several schools in the Mbabane urban area yesterday, where it engaged teachers on the commission’s new strategy.
He added that a similar exercise would be conducted in other regions.
The schools visited include Ka-Boyce, Mater Dolorosa, Fonteyn, St Francis, Woodlands, Hermann Gmeiner (SOS), Mbabane Central and St Mark’s High School.
Ka-Boyce is among the schools that have new headteachers this year following the transfer of Welcome Mhlanga from Hermann Gmeiner (SOS). Currently holding the reins at SOS is former Bahá’í High School headteacher Audrey Mhlongo.
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Meanwhile, St Mark’s High School headteacher Khanyisile Shabangu was transferred to Mbabane Central High School but challenged the move. The matter is still pending before the courts.
Mahlalela said the performance disparity among schools had resulted in parents developing preferences for certain schools, thereby skewing the admission process.
“For us to address this and bring parity in performance, the TSC devised a strategy to reassign the headteachers in order to reignite their zeal to perform,” he said.
He explained that Mhlanga’s transfer from SOS was meant to challenge him further. The commission deliberately started with headteachers so that they could develop a renewed sense of purpose and strive for higher performance.
Mahlalela said the move was part of a broader plan to bring academic transformation to schools in Mbabane, adding that the commission was convinced the strategy would yield positive results.
He further said the influx of pupils into certain schools would be controlled, as learners would now be enrolled in schools closer to where they lived.
He said parents were currently competing for limited admission spaces in certain schools, with some even sleeping at school gates while seeking admission for their children in Form I and Form IV.
“Parents should enrol their children in schools near them, knowing that schools in the urban area will be performing at the same level,” he said.
“A parent should feel comfortable enrolling their child in any of these schools because we want the performance of these schools to be raised to a similar standard.”
Mahlalela conveyed special appreciation to Mhlanga and Mhlongo for accepting their reassignment.
He said the move would bring renewed inspiration for excellence at Ka-Boyce, while Mhlongo’s transfer to SOS High School was aimed at transforming it into a centre of excellence.
Mahlalela added that Mhlanga would find the transition easier as Ka-Boyce was already regarded as a centre of excellence.
He also challenged Hhohho Regional Education Officer Dr Nkosinathi Nkambule to devise a programme for team teaching.
Under the proposed programme, a teacher from Ka-Boyce who excels in English, for example, could be paired with a teacher from Woodlands High School for a week to teach learners there.
