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Of those students not in schools, 12.8% had never attended any school, with the figure
substantially higher for boys than girls (15.4% versus 7.2%). Three-quarters of the
remainder dropped out by the time they reached Grade 7. Boys were more likely to
drop out at earlier grades thereafter.
Of those students currently in schools, 4.8% had missed at least one year of school,
with the figure slightly higher for boys (5.2%) than girls (4.6%). Some 13% also missed
classes at least four times in the past semester, with the figure higher for boys than
girls. Missing a year of school was most common for girls in rural areas.
The ratio of students to teachers, despite the significant output of teacher graduates
from NUL, is quite disparate. The transition to high school is at around 60-70% annually
given the cost barrier incurred for high school education. Schools may also exclude
children from high school admission with lower than average results to avoid
disappointing averages when school results are publicized. There are also fewer
secondary schools than primary schools which make the physical access to them not as
readily available.
Despite Lesotho’s significant spending on education, it has still not reached its
Millennium Development Goal in education. Rural areas still suffer lower enrollment
rates and many of the teachers in remote rural areas are unqualified. There is a
program however which allows under-qualified teachers to attend college for further
education during their school vacations. The course takes a total of 4 years.
Despite the prohibition of girls expulsion for pregnancy, enforcement is difficult given the
large percentage of private schools being church owned. Further, despite the regulatory
ban on corporal punishment in schools, teachers and administrators alike continue to
use what has been a mainstay in education for many years.
8.2
Leisure, Recreation and Cultural Activities (Article 12)
Legislative
The Constitution of Lesotho 1993 at article 35 ensures a citizen's participation in cultural
activities is protected.
Section 12 of the CPW Act provides a child's right to sports, cultural and artistic
activities. The Sport & Recreation Act (2002) covers children's involvement in sport and
establishes sports clubs and foundations to give children opportunities to develop skills
outside of school-based learning.
Administrative
The Ministry Youth Gender Sport and Recreation are at present drafting a Policy on
Sport. Schools celebrate cultural days with children, such as Independence Day,
Moshoeshoe Day, King's Birthday. The annual Morija Arts and Cultural Festival involves