BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE- Principals who sent owing pupils home will face the music.
This morning, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Education and Training, Bhekithemba Gama, revealed that the Ministry will engage Principals of different schools on chasing away their pupils.
Gama firmly said some of the Principals would have to account for their actions.
“The Ministry’s principles are clear- no pupil should be chased away for owing. We received news that pupils are being chased away nationwide for owing school fees.
“What is more ridiculous to us is that in one school, it was reported that over 100 pupils were sent back home and we will not fold our arms while this happens,” said Gama.
The PS went on to plead with parents to pay school fees- saying their children were getting negatively affected by being sent back home.
Also, the PS revealed that parents of pupils who were failing to pay school fees would start appearing in the courts today.
In an interview, Gama said parents would start appearing in the courts for defaulting in paying school fees for their children, which caused distress to them and Principals.
The PS, however, did not specify which courts the parents wouldit? appear in.
“Some parents have owed for over two years and Principals are distressed because they cannot send the pupils back home. So to avoid causing distress and frustration to pupils, we have now engaged the law to deal with uncooperative parents.
“These measures may sound drastic but parents have to be held accountable and bring their case to court,” said Gama.
The PS further encouraged parents to pay school fees on time, or cooperate with Principals, to elevate distress from pupils.
Gama further highlighted that parents owing top-up fees were to be engaged with differently, saying they were not to be sent to courts.
“Top-up fees are optional and this puts Principals in a hard position. Worth noting is that they boost the operations of the school hence they are different from school to school. “Parents are encouraged to pay top-up fees as well,” said Gama.
