MBABANE: Sphasha Dlamini, the Secretary General of the Swaziland Association of Schools Administrators (SASA) said schools surviving on the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) grants are struggling to prepare for the reopening of schools.
Eswatini, a tiny Kingdom situated in Southern African has about 70% of the population living below the poverty line, schools admitted a high number of OVCs over the years after the country experienced more HIV/AIDS related deaths.
The sentiments of the School Administrators Secretary General come after Senator Themba Masuku, the Acting Prime Minister announced that schools would be reopening on 29 March 2021 adding that government has paid all outstanding fees for the OVCs and the Free Primary Education ( FPE) for the year 2020 and the first tranche of 2021 fees.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Thursday, the SASA Secretary General said government hasn’t paid for the Orphaned and Vulnerable Children’s (OVC) grants and a majority of Schools depended on them.
“As far as I know, my colleagues just like myself were complaining that there was no money to prepare for the reopening of schools. In High Schools that entirely depend on the OVC grants, their readiness for reopening is not a given, they need the money for cleaning and clearing their yards. I’m also aware that primary schools did receive their Free Primary Education (FPE) grants for the year 2021 in December, this means they are better prepared than High Schools”. said the SASA Secretary General.
On another note, Lady Howard Mabuza, the Minister of Education on Friday announced that teachers should report for duty on Monday 22 March to prepare for the safe reopening of schools.
Schools to open without working equipment as Government struggles to pay fees for OVCs