Free and compulsory primary education in Lesotho : democratic or not?

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The central question of this thesis is whether free and compulsory primary educationin primary government schools of Lesotho has the potential to be thickly democratic. Ihold that the Free and Compulsory Primary Education (2000) policy is a lessdemocratic project because it is characterised by principles of thin democracy. Myclaim is that free and compulsory primary education in Lesotho can be moredemocratic if there is balance in the demand for equity of access in the FPE (2000)project.I hold that in order to succeed in further democratising the Free and CompulsoryPrimary Education (2000) programme, the whole process, but primarily the structuresof education, should be anchored within thick democratic principles. Althoughprimary education is regarded to have changed, this change has been illusory orsuperficial (meaning that it is still essentially the same as the colonial one), as it didnot affect the structure and value systems governing the delivery of education. Thereported conflicts that have come to the fore after independence have been mostly onmatters of strategy rather than differences in terms of the values that drive the deliveryof education in Lesotho. The focus of Lesotho's education has remained on an elitistand outwardly looking minority. This powerful minority remains geared towards theacquisition of a Western type of education driven by Western values. Lessons andopportunities that could have been learnt from Sotho (pre-colonial) educationalexperiences and which were regarded as democratic have been lost. I contend that ademocratically driven education system has to draw its inspiration from the principlesof thick democratic education.An effective and transformational educational system requires the commitment ofthose in political leadership as well as those in charge of education. This commitmentmust include a desire to implement an education system that transforms people'sworldview qualitatively to put them at the service of their nation. I hold that the valueof education in Lesotho can be successful when it is capable of producing men andwomen of the highest integrity, honesty, tolerance, responsibility and accountability.The education system should produce individuals who are hard working, patriotic,well mannered and committed to serving their society. Education should be able toequip each and everyone to contribute meaningfully to the development of the nation.Finally, the teaching of thick democratic attributes must be founded on the bedrock ofa successful education system in Lesotho from the lowest classes or grades.KEYWORDS: Free and compulsory education, democratic education, qualityeducation, equality in education, thick and thin democracy in Lesotho.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University