University
and college students in Swaziland / eSwatini won a victory over government,
forcing it to double their personal allowances.
All tertiary institutions
in the kingdom where King Mswati III rules as an absolute monarch were closed
after students protests, including strikes, local media reported.
The dispute had been going
on for a number of years. Students are also campaigning for scholarships to be
made available for all who qualify and want them. There are also concerns about
resources. These issues have not been resolved.
The Swazi
Observer, a newspaper in
effect owned by King Mswati, reported government would raise the E800 personal
allowance per month to E1,690. This covers accommodation, food, transport and
other personal allowances. The government had said it was broke and could not
afford to pay.
Public services across the kingdom, including health,
education
and policing
are crumbling. The government owes its suppliers about E3 billion (US$215
million). Public
servants are due to hold a national strike in a long-running campaign to get
cost-of-living salary adjustments.
Ministry of Labour and
Social Security Principal Secretary Thulani Mkhaliphi said this year government
supported about 13,000 students through the Students Study Loan Scheme.
See also
Swaziland
university closed indefinitely as student protests continue
Limkokwing
University, Swaziland, asks High Court to force end to class boycott
Swaziland
police hold and ‘torture’ students after protest march on Govt ministry
No comments:
Post a Comment