SPEECH
FOR THE HONOURABLE MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND
TRAINING
TOPIC: SCHOOLS’ MANAGERS WORKSHOP ON CHILD PROTECTION IN SCHOOLS
VENUE: BANQUET HALL –ROYAL SWAZI SPA
DATE: 27 JULY 2015
TIME: 0900AM
Principal Secretary
My Colleagues in Christ, the Grantees
Senior Government officials present here
The funders of this meeting UNICEF
Facilitators of this workshop
Ladies and Gentlemen
A very blessed morning!
Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Training I would like to thank you all for honouring the invitation to this workshop in your busy professional schedules as pastors and schools managers. I sincerely value this rare opportunity as a Minister of Education as it is my first time to engage you in a very intimate environment that will enable us to share thoughts on how best we can manage our schools.
Today we are gathered here mainly to deliberate on issues of violence in and around schools and capacitate each other on the Child Protection Welfare Act of 2012.The Ministry of Education of late is seeing a rise in cases of violence in and around schools. If you follow the media reports and analyse the surveillance reports you hear cases where pupils have been injured whilst a teacher was administering corporal punishment, cases of sexual harassment, emotional abuse to name a few. In that process our precious children have lost lives, deformed, mentally retarded or left emotionally wounded or extremely angry. As a result government has been sued millions and schools have turned to be areas of violence because some pupils have resorted to taking the law into their hands by engaging in riots that are nasty. We as the Ministry of Education and Training do not promote such behaviour and will never promote such behaviour as in these instances government and teachers’ property is destroyed. In that process we shift from doing our mandate of providing teaching but ‘’Sitsetsa emacala’’
Ladies and Gentlemen, We are here today to find ways to increase reporting and improve the Education sector’s response to cases of violence against children occurring in and around schools.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Swaziland has about 833 schools and of these schools 30% are mission schools. The Ministry of Education and Training would like to thank the churches for this contribution and thank you so much for doing such a wonderful job, as managing any institution is no child’s play. May you pass our sincere gratitude to the church boards that appoint you to such challenging positions.
Programme director, the management of schools is a very important role. The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) would have a great task managing all the schools. It would not only be cumbersome, but also financially expensive. It is the Ministry’s observation that most government aided schools are effectively managed and as a Ministry, we want to say Thank you. We know that there are times when school managers feel that we do not appreciate what they do. To this, we greatly apologize.
This may be brought about by our officers who may not understand the roles that School Managers/Grantees in Government aided schools play. As a Ministry, we sometimes do not get adequate time to properly orient or induct our officers, REO’s, Inspectors, US – Schools Managers and other governing bodies on how to work with the Schools Managers.
Programme Director, Ladies and Gentlemen allow me to take a minute and highlight the roles and responsibilities of a schools manager/grantee:
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Schools Managers are responsible for the management of teachers in their schools.
(ii) Schools Managers are responsible for Ensuring conducive teaching/learning environments in their schools.
(iii) Ensuring the presence of adequate resources(staff, materials e.t.c).
(iv) Ensuring that teachers do their work through the supervision of Head teachers, Deputy Head teachers and
Head of Departments.
(v) Ensuring discipline in schools.
(vi) Ensuring proper accommodation (where
possible) for teachers.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the authority to appoint a teacher into the teaching service rests in the Teaching Service Commission. A Manager’s duty is to recommend for appointment of a teacher by the commission. A manager does not have the authority to appoint or engage a person to teach without the approval of the commission. It is pleasing to note that all Managers understand and follow this arrangement. We are also happy that the Commission does not appoint teachers to aided schools without the recommendation of the School Managers. If this is not followed, confusion is bound to follow.
This kind of an arrangement recognises the extra curricula education of children that the organisations/churches uphold, that is the principles of Christianity as guided by the church manuals. The Teaching Service Commission is cognizant of this arrangement by not appointing teachers of undesirable characters to such schools.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Ministry of Education and Training is happy that all the mission schools and their Schools Managers do understand that the arrangement to recommend teachers also carries major RESPONSIBILITIES as mentioned earlier on (e.g. managing the teachers). However, it is important to note that, a few School Managers need to be assisted in the area of teacher management.The agreement between the Teaching Service Commission and Missions is very clear on the role of school managers. Some School Managers over use forgiveness and can therefore not take the responsibility of recommending truthfully about a discipline measure to be taken against a wayward teacher or a teacher who misconduct self, we keep “Tibi Tendlu” which is in violation of the agreement. Today we are here to sensitize you on the Child Protection Welfare Act of 2012 which now fully protects children and further incriminates a person who does not report abuse of a child.
For your information Programme Director the Act states that every person, family member, medical officer, child care provider or member of the community has a duty to report to the police, a social worker or Chief if they suspect that a child is being abused, ill-treated or neglected. Failure to report is a serious criminal offence punishable by law.
It is the duty of the Schools Manager to supervise the Headteachers and all other Teachers through the Head teachers. Any contrary to the above must be addressed as soon as possible to avoid potential management problems in schools. It is advisable for Church Boards and the Ministry of Education and Training to:
(i) Appoint capable schools managers who shall do the job as expected without any compromise.
(ii) Ensure that School Managers are thoroughly inducted/oriented on their roles.
(iii) Periodically receive reports from Schools Managers as a sign of taking keen interest on the matters of schools.
Schools Managers should themselves, ensure that all Headteachers and Teachers are also oriented/inducted thoroughly on matters/regulations to be followed in their schools taking into account the TSC Act and Regulations, Swaziland Constitution, Accounting Regulations, School Community Constitution, Industrial Relations Act, Employment Act, Code of Conduct, Education Act, Inqaba Framework, Rights of Children (as amended from time to time) and many other important documents, In addition the Child Protection and Welfare Act .
May I humbly urge you to take your time, organise professional development seminars for your schools where you get the opportunity to share innovative ideas and induct teachers on emerging issues. I am informed by reliable source that many of you conduct such meetings for example The Nazarene Mission have taken time to induct their Head teachers on Safety and Protection in Schools. Furthermore the mission schools are encouraged to have their own regulations that abide by the church principles. For example Emhlosheni have their own booklet that states clearly how teachers should conduct themselves.
Let us all induct the teacher on our school culture “”atithishela nje kutsi kuse Roma lapha.’’ You talk the Roman language.
Ladies and Gentlemen, We need not over emphasize the fact that teachers have, in the past, successfully challenged disciplinary measures in the courts in the event procedures have not been followed in the disciplinary process. Government has decided to surcharge officers who cause financial loss to the Government through negligence of duty. THERE IS EVERY NEED TO ADHERE TO THE REGULATIONS. And these apply to everybody.
Programme director, it is important to note that most schools managers have a great understanding how to work with the REOs in matters concerning their schools. The REOs are themselves heavily loaded and should be consulted for advice and assistance when there is an absolute need.
This ensures the quality of operations in schools. However, schools managers should themselves refer disciplinary matters to Teaching Service Commission. For you to be guided on issues of violence against abuse we have the Protocol on Case Management that guides you.
As I conclude my remarks I wish to thank you once again for supporting the Ministry in running school efficiently and effectively. I am proud to say that you have displayed good leadership and management skills. You have continuously produced good results and I hope that one day we will sit down so that you can share the secret of the success of mission schools.
May I also take this opportunity to thank UNICEF for supporting this workshop. I would also like to thank the joint partnership we have with the RSP, DPM’S and DPP’S office in fighting violence in schools. Worth noting Programme Director is that we now have a One Stop Centre that takes care of victims of violence. I would advise you to take your time during breaks to find out more about the services they offer.
Ladies and Gentlemen it is now my singular honour and pleasure to declare this workshop on child protection issues officially open.
I thank you all May God bless and Protect you all.