Some schools in Swaziland
report they have not received text books and other materials to teach
Christianity, a year after the subject was made compulsory without
consultation.
School principals said they
had been promised all the material by government but they had not received
anything, the Swazi Observer reported
on Wednesday (7 February 2018).
It quoted principals in
schools in the Manzini region who did not want to be named. One said schools
were compelled to buy pupils bibles. ‘The
pupils informed us that they struggled during the exams as they had no clue of
the exam paper.’
The Observer quoted a principal saying, ‘The Ministry of Education and Training
should strive to provide quality education and address all the critical issues
facing all the schools in the country, rather than for them to improvise for
some schools, while neglecting some.’
The Ministry denied books
and materials had not been delivered.
In January 2018 Minister of
Education and Training Phineas Magagula said there was not enough money to fund
teaching of Christianity. About E33 million (US2.6 million) was needed to fund
169 extra teachers.
The new policy that only
Christianity and no other religion could be taught in schools was announced in
January 2017. Previously, the Religious Education syllabus included
Christianity, Islam, Baha’i faith and Swazi ancestors. The decision reportedly
came from the Swazi Cabinet, which is handpicked by King Mswati III, sub-Saharan
Africa’s last absolute monarch. There was no consultation with schools.
The move was controversial.
Teaching only Christianity could be against the spirit, if not
the letter, of the Swazi
Constitution. When the 2005 Constitution was being
drafted, it was decided not to insist that Swaziland was a Christian country.
This was to encourage freedom of religion.
In January 2017, Lawyers
for Human Rights spokesperson Sabelo Masuku said although Swaziland was
predominantly Christian, the Government had to consider the Swazi Constitution
which made it clear there was freedom of religious choice.
The Swaziland National Association
of Teachers (SNAT) President Freedom Dlamini criticised the way the new
syllabus was introduced. In a statement he said, ‘Our education system was
immediately thrown back into the dark ages, not that we had ever got out.’
Dlamini added, ‘We don't
want to create religious fundamentalists from our future generation, a
predicament that some nations are finding themselves in today.’
According to the CIA
World factbook religion in Swaziland is broken down as
Zionist (a blend of Christianity and indigenous ancestral worship) 40 percent,
Roman Catholic 20 percent, Muslim 10 percent, other (includes Anglican, Bahai,
Methodist, Mormon, Jewish) 30 percent.
See also
SCHOOLS CRISIS OVER CHRISTIAN TEACHING
SCHOOLS RELIGIOUS TEACHING SHAKE-UP
RELIGION
BAN IN SCHOOLS: PROTESTS GROW
ALL MUST PAY FOR CHRISTIAN LESSONS
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