FPE succeeds in enrolling 120,000 in primary schools 

Lesotho's free primary education project has succeeded in enrolling an additional 120 000 children in primary schools since 2000. a feat tat could not have been possible without the project, the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Regional Director of Eastern and Southern Africa, Mr. Per Engebak has announced.

In a press release at the week-end, the UNICEF Regional Director commended Lesotho for introducing free primary education as it contributes in empowering the youth, especially girls, so that they are able to master their own future and make informed decisions.

On the problem of orphans caused by the prevalence of HIV/AIDS, Mr. Engebak said this is a 'ticking
time bomb' that waits to explode. The social outcry over the issue of orphans is not as yet tremendously felt in Lesotho due to the extended family mechanism the country practices that is so far functioning smoothly. But he warned however that this will soon collapse due to increased deaths caused by HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact on families' economies.

The UNICEF Regional Director said there is a need to provide social grants in the form of monthly subsidies to families taking care of orphans or to child headed households in order to address the problem.

"The current problem of street children is the visible tip of the iceberg, as there are underground dimension of other vulnerable children not as visible but much more exposed to violence, abuse and poverty," he said.

There is therefore need, he said, to ensure there are timely intervention programs focusing on vulnerable children in order to ensure their safety.

Mr. Engebak also commended the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights in collaboration with UNICEF Lesotho in their efforts to integrate children's rights and interests in the current Child Protection and Welfare Amendment Bill.

 According to the UNICEF, during his three-day official visit to Lesotho, Mr. Engebak also paid courtesy calls on the Ministers of Education; Health and Social Welfare; Gender, Sports and Youth Affairs as well as Justice and Human Rights as part of a familiarisation mission with the humanitarian crisis caused by drought and HIV/AIDS prevalence in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.

23 February 2004