By Thoboloko Ntšonyane
MOKHOTLONG- Strong calls have been made to keep adolescents away from initiation schools in order to safeguard rights and ensure that they complete secondary education before going for initiation.
These calls were made during the public consultations recently in Mokhotlong on the ‘Protection and Administration of Custom at Initiation School Bill, 2022’ draft bill led by the Ministry of Sports, Tourism, Arts and Culture, a national exercise supported by the Southern African Development Community-Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF).
The consultations highlighted the urgent need for legislative reform to safeguard the well-being and future of the youth.
Once enacted, this Bill will uphold and promote respect for the values embedded in Basotho cultural heritage, ensuring the teaching of customary principles to benefit both present and future generations.
It also aims to prevent malpractice and criminal activities at initiation schools while fostering collaboration between the Council, government agencies, and public institutions. The Bill further seeks to incorporate environmental and social development elements, such as community service, into school programmes.
It proposes a minimum age of 18 for participation in initiation activities for both males and females.
‘Maphello Mokone, from the Principal Chief’s office under the Initiation Committee and a representative of the Ministry of Health, stated that children should not be allowed to undergo circumcision.
Mokone, who is also a traditional doctor, noted that children often reveal the ‘secrets’ of what occurs during the rite of passage into manhood or womanhood to their peers after undergoing initiation.
“These days, initiation schools have become a playground,” she stressed, adding that this has caused distress to the proprietors of these schools.
She explained that when such secrets are revealed, it is often difficult to take disciplinary action against those responsible, as they may involve lawyers to challenge the processes in court.
Masoto Sentle echoed similar sentiments, highlighting that some children refuse to return to modern schools after attending initiation schools.
Sentle alleged that students who have been through initiation sometimes lose respect for their teachers, particularly those who have not undergone initiation themselves.
He supported raising the minimum age for initiation to 21 years, arguing that the country should respect international treaties concerning the age and rights of the child.
Sentle noted that the age of 21 aligns with a stage where students are likely to have completed their secondary education, a view shared by many traditionalists who support initiation schools.
Criticism was also directed at some parliamentarians advocating for 16 years as the appropriate age for initiation.
For his part, Mopheme Mokoena, the Secretary of the National Initiation Council, also backed the proposal to set the minimum age for initiation at 21. He explained that initiates are amongst others taught ‘four key principles’, which prepare them to become “pastors, chiefs, policemen, and soldiers,” enabling them to be responsible and upstanding members of their communities.
Ntšupuoa Lephoto, the District Education Manager for Mokhotlong, has reported a positive decline in the number of students dropping out of school to attend initiation schools.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Education and Training supports raising the minimum age for attending initiation schools to 21 years saying this would help reduce disruptions to students’ education.
While Lephoto could not provide exact statistics, he noted that he is awaiting comprehensive reports from school principals across the district. These reports will offer detailed information on dropout rates and the underlying reasons for students leaving school.