By: Thoboloko Ntšonyane
QACHA’S NEK –An alarming 87% dropout rate in rural areas, compared to just 13% in urban places, has emerged as a stark finding in the Extended National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP II).
Despite Qacha’s Nek ranking among the top-performing districts in the 2023 Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE) results, with a pass rate of 57.5% following closely behind Mafeteng’s 57.6%, concerns remain. Many students in Qacha’s Nek are reportedly leaving school for initiation practices, especially those on the brink of their final examinations, raising worries over the impact on academic outcomes.
Scores of boy students in Qacha’s Nek District have reportedly left school to attend initiation schools, raising concern among education officials and prompting urgent calls for action. According to reports from the District Education Manager, many of the students who have abandoned their studies are under the age of 18.
The Qacha’s Nek District Education Manager Lebenya Mothibeli described the situation as a “crisis”, especially with examinations approaching.
He warned that the students’ absence from school severely compromises their education, with some of those who have left due to sit for the Grade 11 exams.
While he could not provide exact figures, he said there have been reports from many high schools around Qacha’s Nek, with teachers noting a surge in students dropping out to attend initiation schools.
“If we, as Basotho, want this practice to be respected, we must agree on the appropriate age for a person to be admitted to initiation,” Mothibeli said, urging the Chiefs in affected areas to facilitate the students’ return to school. He also highlighted that some of the students are being supported through bursaries provided by the Ministry of Social Development.
The Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) has previously identified initiation schools as one of the factors contributing to school dropouts. Other reasons for children leaving school include a lack of interest in education, attending initiation schools, inability to afford exam fees, insufficient funds for uniforms, lack of money for school fees, and, in some cases, pregnancy.
Mothibeli called for clear timelines to regulate the operation of initiation schools and raised concerns about the demarcation lines for these schools, questioning what measures are in place to address the situation.
The Ministry of Tourism, Sports, Arts, and Culture is conducting public hearings on the ‘Protection and Administration of Custom at Initiation School Bill, 2022,’ which is supported by the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) through the SRHR and HIV Governance Project.
Once enacted, the Bill will introduce legal safeguards to prevent initiates from being forced out of school.
The proposed legislation aims to protect and promote cultural values while safeguarding the rights of children. Advocate Thapelo Maketela, a Chief Legal Officer at the Ministry of Tourism, stated that the Bill will impose legal consequences on initiation school owners who admit underage children.
The Secretary for the National Initiation Council, Mopheme Mokoena acknowledged the difficulty of regulating initiation school owners in the absence of existing laws. He noted that some school owners have engaged lawyers to challenge the prohibition on admitting underage initiates.
SADC-PF country focal person ‘Mammehela Matamane expressed support for the Bill by the former, saying it has to align it with human rights and be harmonized with existing laws that protect children.
She highlighted that under current laws, children under the age of 18 are not eligible for initiation, and that their right to education must be upheld.
Matamane said the cultural practices should not infringe upon the rights of children, particularly their right to education.
The access to education is reportedly linked to improved Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) outcomes. Educated individuals are more likely to delay marriage, avoid early pregnancies, and access SRHR services.
Matamane noted that the response to the public consultations has been positive, with initiation school owners and instructors engaging in discussions. She said the comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) programme is for empowering young people with the knowledge they need to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health.
After undergoing this rite of passage into manhood, the boys are regarded as men. Some have previously made the decision to drop out of school, compromising their future in the long term.
Meanwhile, Director of Culture ‘Matšosane Molibeli reported that public hearings on the Bill have been conducted in many districts, with Mokhotlong and Thaba-Tseka being yet to be visited for engagement with the stakeholders.