Lesotho

After Independence, education in Lesotho did not attain the hoped for results. By 1977 the drop out rate continued to be high, the quality of education deteriorated, and student and teacher motivation declined. Instead of appointing another Commission of Inquiry that would function in the usual top-down bureaucratic manner, the government organized a Pitso, a nationwide dialogue on education. Using the traditional channels of authority and communication, this dialogue started in the Chief's Courts in the various villages and culminated in a national Education Dialogue in Maseru. This commission directly involved the people at the grassroots level making those most affected by education participants rather than a target group for a "learned commission." Recommendations were made that influenced a number of developments in education. Following these recommendations the Lesotho Government decided on an Education Sector Survey Task Force that made recommendations on all aspects of the education process. It remains difficult to provide education for all, to respond to the needs of the people, yet still meet the developmental needs of Lesotho and the increasing demands of a profit oriented capitalist world intent on globalization. However, despite all these obstacles, some of the results are to be seen in significant developments that took place shortly after the Maseru Education Dialogue.

An efficient nonformal Distance Teaching Center and a Curriculum Development Center have been set up. A book supply unit has been set up, and a program to build classrooms was launched. Two associations dealing with formal and nonformal education were formed: the Lesotho Educational Research Association (for formal education) and the Lesotho Association (for nonformal education).