A high school in eSwatini has been closed indefinitely after pupils boycotted classes in protest against beatings that some of their mates had received. Nyamane High School is situated on the outskirts of Nhlangano in the southern part of the Kingdom of Eswatini.
It all started on Monday when the teacher ‘waylaid’ pupils at the school gate, targeting those with long hair. Students at Nyamane refused to return to classes after lunch on Wednesday but took to staging demonstrations and singing political songs, before the Police waded in, to restore peace.
The pupils objected to being beaten for not cutting their hair. Corporal punishment is banned in eSwatini, but some were so badly injured they had to be treated in hospitals.
Article 29(2) of the Constitution 2005 states that “a child shall not be subjected to abuse or torture or other cruel inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment subject to lawful and moderate chastisement for purposes of correction”
Shiselweni Regional Education Officer Siboniso Gumbi confirmed the incident. Gumbi said the school was closed pending a meeting with parents.