NKANINI: Parents at Nkanini High School held a meeting on Monday and resolved that the school must be closed until government addresses the grievances of protesting students.
As a result, Principal Khumbulani ‘KK’ Ndwandwe subsequently informed the students on Tuesday that the school has been closed until further notice.
Boy Ngcamphalala, a parent who was part of the meeting confirmed that a resolution was taken to close the school, however, he said police subsequently attacked their children on their way back home trying to force them back to class.
“As parents, we decided to close the school because we want to protect our property from being damaged by the angry children, the school was built by us hence it is our property. We are surprised that Government is not addressing the grievances of the children who are protesting across the country. What surprised us is that after we resolved to shut down the school, police assaulted our children and tried to force them back to class. With this decision we are trying to protect our children and the property, we don’t want them to be assaulted by the police, batfwanabetfu ababuye ngakitsi kuze kulunge tintfo”, he said.
It has been disclosed that parents further instructed the Headteacher to report their decision to close the school to the Regional Education Officer(REO).
Police Spokesperson Phindile Vilakati had not responded at the time of compiling this report.
Reached for comments on Tuesday, Khumbulani Ndwandwe, the Nkhanini Principal confirmed that he was at the REOs offices, however, he asked this journalist to call him later.
“I am at the REO offices, please call me after two hours”, he said.
Eswatini is facing growing calls for democratic reforms after children in various schools across the country boycotted classes demanding democratic reforms and the release of arrested pro-democracy Members of Parliament(MPs) Bacede Mabuza and Mthandeni Dube.
Protesting students at Nkanini.