BY MBONO MDLULI
MBABANE – The Principal Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Education and Training, Nanikie Mnisi, has issued a stern warning to headteachers who are arbitrarily expelling learners from schools, particularly orphans and vulnerable children (OVC).
Mnisi’s strong message follows reports received by her office indicating that some school principals across the country have been expelling learners without following proper procedures. In one reported case from the Lubombo Region, learners were allegedly expelled for failing to pay E100 towards a farewell function for a former headteacher.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at the Ministry of Education and Training Conference Room in Mbabane, Mnisi said it appeared that some headteachers were acting as though schools were their personal property. She expressed concern that certain principals were behaving as if they were the highest authorities within their institutions.
“It has come to our attention that learners are being expelled simply because they have not paid certain fees,” Mnisi said. “While we understand that schools require financial contributions to function, this must be handled in a dignified and lawful manner that does not compromise a child’s right to education.”
Mnisi emphasised that it was unreasonable to expel a learner who had already paid E2 000 simply because a principal demanded E2 500 as a deposit. She reminded headteachers that public schools belong to the nation and are supervised by government through the Ministry of Education and Training, in the interest of all EmaSwati.
“We do not want to be at loggerheads with headteachers,” she said. “However, the manner in which some learners are being expelled suggests we may be heading in that direction.”
The PS also raised concern over the variation in school fees among public schools despite a standard national curriculum. She said the Ministry had already begun addressing the issue through a benchmarking exercise within SADC countries, where it was found that public schools are closely supervised by education authorities to ensure uniformity and fairness.
Mnisi reminded headteachers that any proposed school fees, particularly at primary school level, require approval from the Minister of Education and Training. She urged principals to immediately desist from unlawful practices, noting that schools had already opened a week late and that time was not on anyone’s side.
Also speaking at the briefing, Deputy Prime Minister’s Office (DPMO) Acting Principal Secretary Makhosi Simelane said his office had been inundated with complaints regarding the treatment of OVC in schools. He said many of these learners, who fall under the care of the DPMO, were being unfairly expelled, undermining efforts to secure their rightful access to education.
Simelane warned that such actions have serious psychological and social consequences, including feelings of exclusion that may lead some learners to contemplate self-harm. He added that the impact extends to elderly guardians caring for these children, while social workers are left to address the aftermath months into the academic year.
He appealed to headteachers to cooperate with government institutions and to follow proper channels when dealing with school fee challenges, in order to avoid irreversible harm to learners and their families.
