While government has announced that food deliveries for the new academic term, which starts tomorrow, will be made to schools this week, there are schools where deliveries were not made last term.
At least three schools reported to have had challenges with food to feed learners last term, prompting headteachers to turn to suppliers to buy food on credit.
Eswatini Principals Association (EPA) Secretary General Mduduzi Masilela confirmed that some headteachers had reported that they had not only received food last term, but also the first instalment of the orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) grant.
He said at the time he was contacted, three schools; two high and one primary, reported to have not received the food. Meanwhile, he said two schools did not receive the first OVC tranche, which is usually payable in two instalments.
This is despite that the Ministry of Education and Training, in its first quarter performance report, said food distribution for primary and high schools was expected to end on July 2 after commencing on May 30, although schools had opened on May 5.
The Nutrition Unit, which is responsible for nutrition and related activities under the ministry, reported that at the time of compiling the report for the first quarter that ended on June 31, 551 primary schools out of 597 had already received food, while 10 out of 284 secondary and high schools were still to have their food delivered.
Further, the ministry reported that a single supplier had been contracted to supply food for primary and secondary schools. It also reported that an increased school feeding programme budget ensured all schools received cooking oil during the term.
Although Masilela did not disclose the names of the schools, sources revealed that Mbabane Central was one of the high schools that did not receive Zondle last term. Sources claim the school had to buy food on credit to ensure that learners had meals while waiting for a delivery.
However, this reportedly did not happen until the term ended on August 8. The school’s Headteacher Dumsani Shabangu said despite not receiving any food from government during the second term, the school’s available supply ran out during the course of the second term. He said this was food that had been delivered by government during the first academic term.
Mbabane Central High did not only have the food shortage, but also limited funds in its coffers as a result of non-payment of school fees.
In May, the school committee Chairperson Henry Manyika, during a parents’ meeting, revealed that the school was owed over E2 million in outstanding fees for the years 2024 and 2025. As a result, the school could not afford to honour its financial obligations including paying a water bill which at the time stood at E51 000.
Although Shabangu, when asked if there was any change after the parents’ meeting, said some parents had paid part of their children’s fees and the water bill was settled, he also mentioned that the paid money did not make much difference.
This was more so because some parents only paid examination fees for their children in Forms III and V, while others paid for a school trip that was in August.
When asked for a latest update last Friday, Shabangu said parents had not been paying for their children, especially since schools are closed. He mentioned that it was always the case that when schools were closed, parents also backtracked on paying school fees, which he said made it challenging for the school to even use available funds to buy food.
Meanwhile, Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training Naniki Mnisi said she was unaware that there were schools that had not received food last term.
However, she advised headteachers of these schools to report to the ministry so that the matter could be addressed.
“On the OVC payment issue, it would be premature to respond as the affected schools have not approached our office above that the fund is with the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office,” she said, advising that questions on the matter should be forwarded to the DPM’s Office.
The DPM’s Office, in its first quarter performance report, stated that there had been an increase in the number of beneficiaries enrolled in the OVC education grant programme.
It reported that during the past financial year, the office enrolled 16 155 beneficiaries, and this fiscal year 19 425 children have been enrolled into the OVC education grant programme and majority of the enrolled beneficiaries were those in Form 1.
Also, the office reported to have facilitated the payment of one-third deposits to enable schools to operate seamlessly while processing the intake for new students.
A total of E36.8 million was reportedly paid as one-third deposit. In addition, a sum of E10.9 million was also reportedly paid to 209 schools in the four regions as an added one-third deposit amount. These, according to the report, were schools that received less amounts in the payment of the first deposit. The overall total paid in one-third deposit amounts to E47 800 938.
