SUPPORT FOR SWAZILAND STUDENTS

The following is a statement of support from the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN) for students in Swaziland who are presently protesting against the Swazi government’s refusal to increase their allowances. Students also want the government to implement its constitutional obligation and introduce full free primary school education.

Meanwhile, leaders of the Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) have announced another protest march for next week to ‘sensitise different stakeholders on the grievances that tertiary students have’ and to pressurise the government to reopen the tertiary colleges in the kingdom that it closed down during the present dispute.

SSN calls for support of Swazi Students

04^th February. 2010

The Swaziland Solidarity Network [SSN] has been monitoring the events surrounding tertiary students in Swaziland very closely for the past few days. As things currently stand, all the main institutions of higher learning are currently closed indefinitely. The issues raised by these students, which include increased personal allowances and Universal Primary School education, are very legitimate and would not lead to any confrontation in a normal society.

It is extremely disheartening to see such a number of students having their normal academic year interrupted, especially because judging from previous experience it is clear that no adjustment will be made to the academic calendar. A worst case scenario is that these students will be forced to repeat the year should the colleges remain closed for long enough.

It is due to these circumstances that the Network calls upon all student and youth organisations outside Swaziland, particularly in South Africa, to support the Swazi students’ struggle for their right to education.

Issued by the Swaziland Solidarity Network- South Africa Chapter: