The Eswatini Schools Committee and Parents Association (ESCAPA) has welcomed the postponement of school opening.
ESCAPA President Cedric Mawusa Chirwa said the delay gives parents additional time to gather school fees. Many parents, he noted, would be paid by then and better positioned to pay or negotiate school fees.
“Even though we may not have much, the little that we have will show headteachers that parents are committed to their children’s education. Parents are expected to pay deposits, and some simply do not have that money, even though government shifted pay dates,” he said.
He added that parents in the private sector would still be inconvenienced but acknowledged that the postponement was necessary due to abnormal rainfall.
“We were worried about the safety of our children, as some pupils cross rivers, and parents were unable to move due to the same dilapidated roads when seeking school places for their children,” Chirwa said.
He urged the ministry to make every effort to recover the time lost due to the delays.
Schools Opening Postponed
Due to persistent rains, government has postponed the opening of schools for the first academic term by a week. Schools were initially scheduled to open next Tuesday but will now reopen on January 27.
Minister of Education and Training, Owen Nxumalo, said Cabinet and Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini made the decision after noting that persistent rains caused extensive damage across the country. Affected schools include Herefords and Mayiwane High School.
Contractors are already on site to carry out repairs, particularly in storm-affected areas, allowing schools to open safely. Nxumalo said the extra week would also give parents and learners sufficient time to complete registrations and other preparations.
He confirmed that the feeding scheme and Free Primary Education (FPE) funds are ready for distribution.
Teacher Concerns
Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Secretary-General, Lot Vilakati, raised concerns that some schools and teachers were not ready for reopening. Syllabuses for the new curriculum had not yet been received, and workshops for integration into high school teaching had not been conducted.
Vilakati said teachers in rural areas face additional challenges, often walking over 17 kilometres to reach schools with limited infrastructure.
He warned that repeated postponements disrupt the academic calendar, affecting teaching, learning time, and ultimately, the quality of education.
