BY BANELE MAGONGO
MBABANE – Mbabane East Member of Parliament (MP) Welcome Dlamini has pledged to lobby his fellow MPs to enact legislation that will protect pupils from being punished for speaking SiSwati in schools.
The MP said this today at Mater Dolorosa (MDS) High School during the school’s Culture Day.
Dlamini first wanted to know if the pupils were being punished for speaking Siswati, a thing which they responded to the affirmative. He then wondered if there was any country in the world that punishes its learners for speaking their native language in school. The legislator stated the importance of the Siswati language and its role in preserving cultural identity of Emaswati.
He encouraged the pupils to learn and use SiSwati, and to support efforts to protect the language. Dlamini also noted the rich history and cultural significance of SiSwati, and emphasised its importance in maintaining a connection to the past and a sense of pride in the present.
Dlamini also emphasised the importance of using Siswati as a medium of instruction in schools, arguing that it could help students to better understand the concepts they were being taught.
He noted that Siswati was the first language of many pupils, and that using it in the classroom could create a more supportive learning environment. He pointed out that teaching in SiSwati could help to promote cultural pride and appreciation for the language.
He commended the speakers at the event who educated students about the SiSwati tradition of kuvunula. He shared his own experiences with wearing traditional attire at Wits University in South Africa, and how it garnered respect and appreciation from others.
He encouraged pupils that they should be interested in learning about SiSwati culture because people from other countries loved the Eswatini culture and they expected Emaswati to have rich knowledge about the culture.
To encourage the preservation of culture in the school, Dlamini pledged to purchase traditional attire for pupils who wished to participate in the Umhlanga and Lusekwane ceremonies. He believes that providing students with the means to experience these important cultural events will instill a sense of pride and appreciation for their heritage.
