MANZINI – Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President, Mbongwa Dlamini, has made a passionate plea to the Minister of Education and Training to address the worsening conditions faced by teachers, warning that continued neglect could soon turn teachers’ cheers into chants of frustration.
Speaking during the Teachers’ Day celebration on Friday, Dlamini thanked the Ministry for allowing educators to gather “without stress or threats” for the first time in two years. But behind the smiles and songs, he said, lay deep-seated pain over frozen salaries, missing allowances, and long-term contracts that deny teachers basic benefits.
“Honourable Minister, among those who cheered you today are teachers in salary band B2 people who don’t even get a cent in housing allowance,” Dlamini said.
“Some have served over 16 years and are still on contract. If they die today, their families are left with nothing.”
Dlamini lamented that while consultants concluded the recent salary review, teachers in lower bands were left out completely. “Teachers’ lives are getting harder. Salaries are frozen, housing and travel allowances are gone. It’s like we’re being punished for choosing this profession,” he added.
He warned that teachers’ growing frustration could lead to industrial action.
“If Grade Zero teachers in government schools remain unpaid, and teachers’ cries continue to be ignored, we are ready to face a ‘no work, no pay’ situation. We will stay at home until these issues are resolved,” he declared, drawing loud applause from the crowd.
The SNAT leader also accused the Ministry of sidelining the union from key discussions, such as the recent Competency-Based Education (CBE) stakeholders’ meeting held at Sibayeni Lodge.
“Why was the teachers’ union excluded? We are not opposing change, but we want to be consulted. We have seen the new Ministry structures but where are the head teachers in those meetings?”
Dlamini further criticised the Ministry’s outdated systems, saying the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) still operates manually.
“They don’t even know how many teachers are in schools. Some teachers are transferred, but their pay slips remain in old schools,” he said, calling for full digital transformation in the education sector.
Despite his fiery tone, Dlamini also expressed gratitude to the Ministry and sponsors who supported the day’s celebrations. He revealed that SNAT is celebrating its 97th anniversary and has launched its own medical aid and legal service, SNAT VM Legal, to help members neglected by their employer.
“Our employer treats us like football players loved only when healthy. Once injured, you’re replaced,” he said. “That’s why we started our own medical scheme. We are moving with the times soon members will access all union services digitally.”
In closing, Dlamini lightened the mood, inviting the Minister to join teachers at their evening social event.
“We’ve heard you have great dancing skills, Honourable Minister come celebrate with us!” he joked, earning laughter and cheers from the crowd.
But beneath the humour, the message was clear teachers want respect, fair pay, and to be part of the decisions shaping the future of education.
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