There is no doubt that by their very presence in Lesotho, our UNV volunteers are the greatest advocates for the features and benefits of Volunteerism for Development. In being visible among the people, in government and within UN agencies and partner organisations; in contributing to delivery on their projects and on the work of UNV Lesotho, our volunteers are, themselves advocacy, integration and mobilization in action. The UNDP office is proud to provide managerial and operational support to the UNV Programme in Lesotho.

MDG Goal 4. ACHIEVE UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION

The Government of Lesotho is committed to the provision of basic and quality education to all its people. Though enrolment in primary schools had fallen since the mid-1980s, to 76 percent in 1990 and further to 51 percent in 1999, in 2000, the Government embarked on a programme of Free Primary Education (FPE), introduced gradually over a 7-year period, beginning with Standard 1. As a result, primary enrolment increased to 69 percent in 2000 and further increased to 85 percent in 2003. In support of the programme, 184 new schools have been constructed, while 1,105 new classrooms were installed. More than 1 million textbooks and other teaching materials were supplied to 1,300 schools.

The country continues to have a higher level of primary enrolment for girls than for boys. This is unique in the developing world, where it is customary that girls are discriminated against in accessing primary schooling. In Lesotho the norm has been that boys from young ages tend to herd livestock and later in life migrate to take up work in the South African mining industry. Recently, the advantage of girls over boys in primary education seems to be narrowing.

This WFP led project aims to provide food assistance to 80,000 primary school children mainly in the remote and economically-disadvantaged highlands and mountainous regions to retain them in school, improve their attendance and attract more disadvantaged children to school. The project supports the Government’s priorities as defined in the Poverty Reduction Strategy. The assistance is in line with Lesotho’s efforts to halve hunger and Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 1 “eradicate extreme poverty and hunger” and MDG 2 “achieve universal primary education” as well as the strategic objective to support access to education.

The school feeding programme also serves as a platform for related activities and amongst others is expected to result in increased HIV-awareness and knowledge among school-age children. School gardens are established and lead to more diversified school meals and raise the students’ awareness of agricultural practices and environmental concerns.