The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) has challenged the country’s Minister of Education and Training Lady Howard Mabuza to name the teachers she said are responsible for the country-wide riots in schools.

The Minister was given only 5 working days to do such or the teachers union take the matter to another level.

This is contained in a statement that was released by the SNAT Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini following accusations made by the Minister of Education and was reported by Eswatini Observer on Thursday.

Dlamini described the Minister’s allegations as treasonous, off-target, and scandalous to the teaching profession.

“As a former teacher herself, the Minister is supposed to know that the teaching profession is a profession that is guided by ethics and that according to the ethics, of the profession, no teacher allowed to incite violence by learners. To this end, the allegations by the Minister are off-target and scandalous to the noble profession (teaching),” clarified Dlamini.

Dlamini revealed that the teacher’s union wrote to the Minister on Thursday challenging her to name the teachers she said are implicated in the country-wide riots in schools by next week Wednesday.

“If the Minister fails to do that, as SNAT, we will be left with no option but to escalate the matter further,” he added.

The union also noted allegations that were made by the country Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini in today’s press briefing where he alleged that a certain teacher’s union is behind the unrest in schools.

“We are therefore challenging the PM to name that particular union because, as SNAT, we are equally concern that due to the ongoing political situation, we are unable to ply our trade as educators,” read the statement.

Dlamini further reminded the Eswatini government that teachers are members of the society before being educators and therefore their responsibilities should not be confused.