HEAD 'TELLS PUPILS TO BE SEXWORKERS'

A headteacher in a school in Swaziland has told his girl pupils they should consider becoming sex workers to pay their school fees, a local newspaper reported on Wednesday (10 February 2016).

He reportedly said they should offer themselves as prostitutes to passing road traffic.

The Times of Swaziland, the only independent daily newspaper in the kingdom ruled by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan Africa’s last absolute monarch, did not name the headteacher of school involved. It reported, ‘Some of the pupils, who have not paid their schools fees, are orphaned and vulnerable children (OVCs).’

It added, ‘The head teacher allegedly also advised the boys to find work in construction companies and even mentioned the names of the firms, situated in Matsapha.’

The Times reported, ‘A widow, who wept during an interview, told this publication that the head teacher said the children should find work or venture into prostitution so they could help their parents pay their fees. The woman, who is a mother of two of the children, alleged that the children were told that education was very expensive and was not for the poor.’