Abstract:
by all Basotho children irrespective of their socio-demographic standing. It was also
the objective of this study to investigate if differences in participation rates between
boys and girls have disappeared following the introduction of Free Primary
Education. 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 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 for 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 boy’s access to
primary education without change of attitude among Basotho men regarding
herding of livestock.
