Union leaders have urged the Swaziland (eSwatini)
Government not to go ahead with plans to reopen schools next week from coronavirus
lockdown because it is unsafe to do so.
The Swazi Ministry of Education and Training
instructed high school teachers to return to work on Monday (29 June 2020)
ahead of a partial reopening of schools starting 6 July.
The Swaziland
National Association of Teachers (SNAT) reported it had visited 20 schools in
rural areas across the kingdom and found none met the minimum safety requirement
to reopen. It said government was not assisting these schools to put proper measures
in place.
SNAT also reported it found 847 teachers said they had
underlying health conditions and should shelter during the present coronavirus
(COVID-19) crisis.
In a message to teachers SNAT urged them not to report
for work until safety measures were in place.
The message said in part, ‘SNAT really wants schools
to reopen for teaching and learning to continue. However, as a human rights
organisation we cannot put ourselves in a position where we will find ourselves
infecting one another with the virus. We cannot allow a situation where we will
find ourselves even infecting the learners whom we want to impart knowledge to.’
SNAT had previously drawn up a list
of issues it wanted addressed before schools could safely reopen. They
included schools to be disinfected, all children tested for coronavirus, a
nurse on site at every school and the transportation of learners to conform
with social distance requirements. The marking of class work and sharing of
books should be also be discontinued, SNAT said.
Schools have been closed in Swaziland since 18 March.
Minister of Education and Training Lady Howard-Mabuza
told the House of Assembly that E56 million (US$3.2 million) was needed to pay
for the school reopening. That money has yet
to be released by the government.
The number of deaths from coronavirus in Swaziland nearly
doubled to 11 in the past week, according
to official Ministry of Health figures. As of 28 June, 781 people had
tested positive.
See
also
Swaziland
schools to reopen from coronavirus lockdown but Govt. admits infections and
deaths surging
Delay
in reopening Swaziland schools as coronavirus cases continue to rise
Work
still to be done before Swaziland schools open after coronavirus lockdown
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