MALKERNS:Bhekithemba Gama,the Principal Secretary(PS)in the Ministry of Education says he will instruct the Regional Education Officer(REO) to investigate amid allegations suggesting that Malkerns Primary School Headteacher Khanyisile Kunene allegedly forced parents to pay monies amounting to over five hundred thousand Rands(R500,000.00)into a private account.
The money was paid into a bank account owned by the Parents Teachers Association(PTA),part of parents’ monies were used by teachers to entertain themselves in Hotels.
Responding to a questionnaire from this Swaziland News on Tuesday,the PS said it was illegal for a public school to have two accounts.
“Thanks for the information,I was personally not aware.I will send the Manzini REO to check.Akukavumuleki kutsi a public school can have 2 accounts and it is illegal to make parents to deposit money to a different account other than the official account.
An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that parents whose children were admitted at the school were forced to pay one thousand five hundred(R1500)as a basic requirement,the money was deposited into Valley Parents and Teachers Association(PTA)Nedbank account number 11990204456 that is not audited by the Auditor General(AG).
It has been disclosed that the school has over three hundred (300)children and this means,the money amounts to over five hundred thousand Rands(R500,000.00) excluding monies generated through a Tuck Shop and other fund raising projects by parents.
On Friday last week,the Malkerns Valley Principal and other teachers were enjoying themselves at Wendy’s Lodge
But apart from the accommodation,meals and other forms of entertainment,each teacher pocketed three hundred and fifty Rands(R350.00).
An insider within the school alleged that the Headteacher was systematically defrauding the Parents Teachers Association(PTA)through among others,buying and loading her own stock at the Tuck Shop.
“One of the teachers was forced to appear before a Committee for selling after school.She was told to stop on the basis that it is the school alone that should sell.But the Principal is selling some of her stock in the Tuck Shop,”said the insider within the school.
Reached for comments,Khanyisile Kunene,the Malkerns Valley Primary School Principal referred comments to the Chairperson of the Association.
“Kindly contact the Chairperson of the Association,he will respond to your questions,”said the Malkerns Valley Principal.
Speaking to this Swaziland News on Tuesday, Mancoba Gamedze,the Chairperson of the Malkerns Valley Primary Parents and Teachers Association(PTA)confirmed that the PTA account was not subject to accountability by the Auditor General(AG).
But the Chairperson subsequently clarified that nothing was wrong with the arrangement between parents and teachers particularly on issues surrounding the payment of the monies into the questionable bank account.
“It’s true that we have a separate account as the Parents and Teachers Association(PTA)but this was meant to assist the school in the event it runs out of funds,as you know that Government is reluctant to assist.On the issue of teachers visiting Hotels for entertainment,we can confirm that teachers were at Wendy’s Lodge this weekend.Again,this was an arrangement between parents and teachers.As parents we were happy with the recent results and we felt we must appreciate the teachers,this is budgeted for every year.The account you are talking about is new and as time goes on we will utilize the services of auditors to check the transactions,”said the Malkerns Valley Primary School Chairperson.
Malkerns teachers at Wendy’s Lodge.