Ntsoaki Motaung
In a country where the struggle against poverty impacts nearly every facet of life, education remains a critical battleground.
Despite ongoing support from the government, many students continue to drop out of school due to financial hardships.
The Ministry of Gender, Youth, and Social Development has long been dedicated to supporting vulnerable families, particularly orphaned and vulnerable children, with school fees.
However, recent observations reveal that this assistance, while crucial, is not always sufficient to keep students in school through to graduation.
In response to these challenges, the Ministry conducted a study to uncover the reasons behind the high dropout rates.
According to Ithabeleng Mosenene, Bursary Administrator for the Ministry, one significant finding was that poverty often prevented students from acquiring essential school uniforms.
“Because uniform is something that makes students feel as part of other learners, some drop out when they do not have it or have a proper one,” Mosenene explained.
“It is, for this reason, the ministry sourced funding for the Basic Education Strengthening Project (BESP) to assist learners in Grades 8 and 9 with school uniforms. These are children who are already receiving Social Assistance grants from the ministry.”
Despite the initiative’s intent to reach 15,000 students, the ministry fell short of this target. Consequently, they have expanded their focus to include learners who receive other forms of ministry support but lack additional assistance.
“This is why we have embarked on the journey of sensitising the parents and guardians of those learners that they will be receiving M1500 strictly for uniform, as well as the implications of not using the money for the intended purpose,” Mosenene added.
Sebapala High School’s acting principal, Lineo Maqala, praised the government’s initiative, recognising its potential to improve student retention rates.
“The government has done a handful by paying for these children’s school fees, but that was not enough. Paying for fees only retained children in school but not all of them because their other challenges were not addressed,” Maqala noted.
“Most of our students are poverty-stricken, and it is difficult for them to get uniforms or even have something to eat. With the provision of uniforms, at least more students will be retained, although there will still be those who drop out because they have no food.”
The impact of this assistance is already being felt in local communities.
Tholoana Nkholise, a guardian from Ha Potsane in the Quthing district, expressed gratitude for the support.
“Now that we are assisted with uniforms, I will now focus on other school needs including stationery and making sure that my niece has transport to school,” Nkholise said. “I did not find balance in trying to buy a uniform and attending to other needs.”
The broader implications of school dropouts due to poverty are profound.
When students leave school, they are often trapped in a cycle of poverty that becomes increasingly difficult to escape. Without the education and skills necessary for economic opportunities, their future prospects are significantly diminished.
This lack of opportunity extends to their own families, as they may struggle to provide the same level of support for their own children, perpetuating the cycle of poverty for future generations.