Who are the Beneficiaries of Free Primary Education in Lesotho?

Abstract

The present article assessed the extent to which Free Primary Education is accessed by all Basotho children irrespective of their socio-demographic standing. Investigating if differences in participation rates between boys and girls have disappeared following the introduction of Free Primary Education is also another purpose of the study. Using the ten percent sample from the 1996 Lesotho Population Census and the 2001 Lesotho Demographic Survey, the findings of the study suggest that children’s access to primary education is influenced by their socio-economic standing. The sex of the child and the child’s relationship to the head of the household are associated with access. Male children were the major beneficiaries of Free Primary Education while female children of the household head were the least of the beneficiaries. The results further showed that female children who benefited were mainly non-relatives of the head of household while among male children grand children of the head and other relatives of the head were the major beneficiaries. It was also apparent from the study that when resources are limited to sending children to school female children were given a chance over male children. There is a need to address the gender imbalance with respect to access to education in Lesotho. Regarding participation gap between boys and girls, 2001 figures indicate that the gap has declined by at least 50 percent in the majority of cases. More still has to be done to afford Basotho boys access to primary education. Legislating for Free and Compulsory Primary Education is not enough to increase boys’ access to primary education without change of attitude among Basotho men regarding herding of livestock.