Constitutionally,the powers to facilitate the employment of teachers vest with the Teaching Service Commission(TSC), an institution under the Ministry of Education and Training whose Minister is Owen Nxumalo.
But the Education Minister has adopted a propaganda strategy to seek public sympathy, pretending as if he does not have the powers to find solutions to challenges faced by schools particularly teachers.
The Education Minister recently appealed for support from Members of Parliament(MPs) “as he work towards addressing the challenges within the education sector”, that was a pure propaganda statement, even Deputy Prime Minister(DPM) Thulisile Dladla who promised a few emaSwati new houses and delivered some within a month is far better in this context.
Firstly,the quality of life for teachers in this country has been compromised by the Government's failure to pay decent salaries,some teachers are struggling to buy quality shoes and other clothes so they can look presentable in the eyes of their clients(children) while representing the dignity of their profession.
Buying a car remains a dream for some teachers,some working in schools in the rural areas are forced to travel long distances by foot amid scarcity of houses.
As if this is not enough,Government subsequently introduced the employment of teachers on contracts, those contract teachers would wait for six(6) months before receiving their first salary.
Worth-noting,when a graduate or anyone secure employment,it is common knowledge that,the newly employed individual will approach money-lenders or relatives for loans to buy clothes,food and pay for transport among others of course,with the hope that,at the end of the month,he/she will get paid,settle those loans and pay monthly bills.
But because we have a Government with no regard for the welfare of the people,not to mention public servants working for the same Tinkhundla government,even workers in this country are forced into poverty.
So the current education crisis is not,in any way, a natural disaster influenced by climate-change or the unusual geographical changes in the atmosphere but, it’s a politically manufactured crisis seeking to ensure that,one of the most globally respected professions is destroyed so that,the citizens could remain ignorant and submissive to oppression under the royal supremacy.
The fundamental purpose of seeking employment or going to school is to prepare for your future and improve your life and therefore,if the end goal is nowhere near a better life,the whole purpose of going to school,the University or any training institution is automatically defeated.
A better life means,once I secure a job,I must afford to buy clothes from a brand of my choice,afford a decent meal,a decent house and provide the best education for children among others,while taking care of my parents.
But teachers in this country are oppressed such that,they can no longer afford themselves,not to mention those who depend on them for survival.
It is therefore important to contextualize the education crisis,for it is not only about the delay in the payment of funds under the Free Primary Education(FPE) or the delivery of food in schools but,the welfare of teachers is and,of paramount importance.
When we demand the provision of working resources in schools we are not necessarily referring to chalks,desks,food for children and stationery in isolation,the basic human resource that drives the agenda for the provision of quality education is a teacher.
It is therefore absurd,in fact it’s a shame,for a whole Education Minister to act as if he is ignorant with regards to what needs to be done to address the education crisis,Owen is literally undermining the intelligence of the Nation.
Government must allocate funds and employ more teachers,we have highly qualified teachers in this country and their qualifications are even recognized by European countries hence some teachers are migrating to work there.
But it was surprising to learn that,Government Spokesperson Alpheous Nxumalo tried to justify the migration of teachers to Europe saying,this means our education system is the best such that,other countries are sourcing teachers from us.
Under normal circumstances,we shouldn’t be addressing or debating with political fools who presented cattle to secure positions but because it’s the political culture of this country to elevate fools to positions of significant trust, we have found ourselves with no alternative but correct the false narrative disseminated by Government.
We want our teachers to work here in eSwatini and use their knowledge and skills to capacitate our children and produce future skilled and qualified human resources for the country.
As an editor,apart from working for this publication,I am sometimes approached by international human rights organizations including Embassies to do some part-time work because other countries are quick to identify and support a skill,on the other hand my own country want to throw that skill in jail.
I was part of the team that produced or contributed to the World Press Freedom Index report, that was then celebrated by Information Minister Savannah Maziya and eSwatini journalists.
This means Government celebrated a product of a hunted journalist but because the report came through the France based Reporters Without Boarders(RSF) organization,the regime wasn’t aware that,the very same journalist they are hunting contributed to that report.
So it’s true that,this country has skilled human resource but political oppression and scarcity of jobs has forced skilled individuals including teachers to be scattered around the world,the world is using those skills while our country is being destroyed by political fools.
No country can ever develop with fools in power particularly,if those political fools will then manipulate State power to oppress those who are intelligent and capable.
Political fools have no capacity to use their brains and develop their lives such that some cannot survive outside their political positions and,it might get worse if they could be forced outside the country by circumstances beyond their control.
This week,a political gang of fools succeeded in jailing Member of Parliament(MP) Mduduzi Bacede Mabuza,a young man who worked very hard to become a millionaire at the age of twenty-eight(28) while some with political power reached the retirement age with their financial struggles if they had no opportunity to steal public funds.
Bacede Mabuza,a very intelligent man is now at the hands of prison fools,some who are forced to approach shylocks before they could see a mere two-thousand Rands(R2000.00) with their naked eyes.
So teachers who are capable of producing all professions in the world,are being oppressed by political fools with State power,fools hate education with passion because they regard educated individuals as a threat.
Education Minister Owen Nxumalo must facilitate the permanent employment of teachers and further work towards improving the welfare of all teachers not to seek public sympathy with propaganda.
Eswatini must learn to appreciate and support skills but the foundation of those skills is the teaching profession.
Education Minister Owen Nxumalo.