The pupils at the school in Ngulwini gathered around
the school yard, singing and chanting for about four hours. The Times of Swaziland reported on Friday
(24 May 2019), they were ‘demanding that the suspended teachers at the school
be brought back to resume their duties’.
The two suspended teachers are Swaziland National
Association of Teachers (SNAT) President Mbongwa Dlamini and John Hoffman, who
is also a union activist.
SNAT has accused the Ministry of Education and
Training (MoET) of an attack on the union for suspending Dlamini who is accused
of absenteeism from school.
SNAT said
in a statement, , 'Chief amongst these charges is becoming a union leader
and participating in legitimate trade union activities.’
There have been disturbances at the school in recent
weeks after pupils demonstrated against some teachers who they said were
sexually abusing them. Police
fired rubber bullets and teargas at the pupils.
Six pupils were later charged with theft and
destruction of property. They were denied bail and remanded in custody. An
online petition organised by Swaziland Human Rights Network UK
called for their release on bail. The pupils were later released on bail.
Teachers
boycotted classes for two days because
they felt insulted to be accused of sexual misconduct. They returned to work on
the instructions of the MoET.
See also
Swaziland
police fire rubber bullets at schoolchildren protesting sexual abuse by teacher
Swaziland teachers claim victimisation as govt hits
union president with disciplinary charges
Swaziland
police shoot, wound teacher during protest over pay, tensions high on eve of
national election
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