Miss-Delectable
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- Apr 18, 2004
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The Swazi Observer
THE Government of Swaziland’s effort to ensure every child gets education by paying school fees for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) seems to be taken for granted.
Pupils of the School for the Deaf in Siteki were informed that their fees could not be paid for since they were benefiting a lot from government.
Head teacher Ngcebase Nxumalo stated that soon after the Ministry of Education announced that OVC should all be registered, parents flocked the school.
“The administration went to the Lubombo Regional Education Office (REO) where we were told to register all orphans and send them the list. After a few months we went back to the REO and were told that government couldn’t pay the fees since we benefit a lot from her. We had no option but to turn back some of the children,” stated Nxumalo.
She further added that a number of parents had approached the school demanding to know about the funds, some suspecting foul play on the administration’s part.
She stated that they now felt neglected by government since the school recently had to go to Polokwane, South Africa, for games. She said when they approached the education ministry for assistance, they were promised but at the eleventh hour turned them down and they had to find other means of securing the needed funds.
She mentioned that their performance at the games was good as they were able to return with 57 medals.
“We were surprised to be told at the eleventh hour that government could not assist us. The children had already packed and ready to leave. It was very difficult for us, we couldn’t understand what really was happening. We were forced to seek help from individuals and companies, including businessman Walter Bennett and other organisations. The money was used to buy food for the children and pay for accommodation. We hired a bus which even today we haven’t paid for, and are still confused where to get the money from,” she complained.
When called for a comment, the Ministry of Education’s Principal Secretary, Goodman Kunene, said he was not aware of any OVC list for the School for the Deaf.
“I never received any list from the Lubombo REO. If there was any, I would have been told. On the issue of the trip to Polokwane, yes, it’s true that we promised to help them but it transpired we could not meet their budget,” stated Kunene.
Efforts to get comment from the Lubombo REO offices were futile.
THE Government of Swaziland’s effort to ensure every child gets education by paying school fees for orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) seems to be taken for granted.
Pupils of the School for the Deaf in Siteki were informed that their fees could not be paid for since they were benefiting a lot from government.
Head teacher Ngcebase Nxumalo stated that soon after the Ministry of Education announced that OVC should all be registered, parents flocked the school.
“The administration went to the Lubombo Regional Education Office (REO) where we were told to register all orphans and send them the list. After a few months we went back to the REO and were told that government couldn’t pay the fees since we benefit a lot from her. We had no option but to turn back some of the children,” stated Nxumalo.
She further added that a number of parents had approached the school demanding to know about the funds, some suspecting foul play on the administration’s part.
She stated that they now felt neglected by government since the school recently had to go to Polokwane, South Africa, for games. She said when they approached the education ministry for assistance, they were promised but at the eleventh hour turned them down and they had to find other means of securing the needed funds.
She mentioned that their performance at the games was good as they were able to return with 57 medals.
“We were surprised to be told at the eleventh hour that government could not assist us. The children had already packed and ready to leave. It was very difficult for us, we couldn’t understand what really was happening. We were forced to seek help from individuals and companies, including businessman Walter Bennett and other organisations. The money was used to buy food for the children and pay for accommodation. We hired a bus which even today we haven’t paid for, and are still confused where to get the money from,” she complained.
When called for a comment, the Ministry of Education’s Principal Secretary, Goodman Kunene, said he was not aware of any OVC list for the School for the Deaf.
“I never received any list from the Lubombo REO. If there was any, I would have been told. On the issue of the trip to Polokwane, yes, it’s true that we promised to help them but it transpired we could not meet their budget,” stated Kunene.
Efforts to get comment from the Lubombo REO offices were futile.