Free Primary Education Will Have Covered all Classes by the Next Financial Year - Maqelepo Tells National Assembly

The government of Lesotho plans to widen the scope of the free primary education (FPE) programme to cover all primary level classes, from standards one to seven, in the next financial year, Assistant Minister of Education, Mrs. 'M'alijane Maqelepo has told the National Assembly.

Speaking during parliamentary question time, Mrs. Maqelepo said government had decided to introduce FPE gradually, one class a year, to avoid the financial burden of introducing it at one go. She stressed however that it was government's policy to provide quality primary education that is accessible.

Since government introduced FPE its international cooperating partners have also been assisting financially towards the programme. Fifty-eight percent of this year's financial allocation to the Ministry of Education and Training will be spent on the FPE programme.

"It is expected that next year's budget will be the last big one since it will cover all the grades, from one to seven," the Assistant Minister said.

In his budgetary estimates presented before the National Assembly, Minister of Education, Mr. Lesao Lehohla announced that the Ministry would increase the number of teachers on its pay roll to allow for a ratio of one teacher to 50 pupils.

Other steps included the building of additional classrooms as well as new schools to reduce overcrowding and  to increase the intake of student teachers at the Lesotho College of Education, Mrs. Maqelepo said.

It is government policy that every child of school going age should not be denied that right because of their parents' inability or negligence.

Basotholand Congress Party (BCP) MP Mr. Ts'eliso Makhakhe had asked the Minister of Education and Training to appraise the House on developments in FPE.

02 April 2004