As the country prepares for the re-opening of schools in a safe manner, the Minister of Education and Training Lady Howard Mabuza has called upon teachers to report for duty this coming Monday.

In a statement released on Friday, Mabuza called upon all teachers to report for duty on Monday, 22^nd March 2021 in order to “prepare schools and be ready to welcome learners for effective teaching and learning”.  

“In preparations for the re-opening of schools, on the 29^th March 2021, all teachers, from Primary to secondary are requested to return to their duty stations as of Monday, 22^nd March 2021,” said the Minister of Education and Training.

Mabuza said this will give teachers an opportunity to strategize on how to manage learners’ rotational schedules relevant to their context as well as manage the learners on each day of school.

Mabuza said her Ministry developed a a detailed plan of the blended approach to teaching as announced by the Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku.

According to this plan, Primary schools with less than 150 registered pupils will get to attend classes from Monday to Friday. However, announced that lower Grades together with Grade 7s for schools with more than 150 enrollment will attend classes on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday while upper classes being Grade 5 and 6 attend on Thursday and Friday.

For High schools, Mabuza announced that the same approach will be followed for schools will less than 150 students as they will attend classes on a daily basis. However, those with enrollment above 150 follow the below schedule.

Meanwhile, Speaking to News on Africa Eswatini Edition yesterday, SNAT Secretary General Sikelela Dlamini said as a teacher’s union, they are expecting the Eswatini Government to hire at least 5 000 teachers before the re-opening of schools.