Wed Sep 25 08:57:50 UTC 2024: ## Lesotho’s Boarding School Boom: A Sign of Economic Hardship and Parental Dilemma
**Maseru, Lesotho:** As South Africa continues to beckon with job opportunities, a growing number of Lesotho parents are leaving their young children behind, fueling a surge in boarding schools catering to toddlers and preschoolers.
The Child Guidance Center (CGC) in Qoaling, Maseru, is one such establishment, offering care, education, and a sense of family to children as young as two. While the school provides a valuable service, it also reflects the difficult choices many families face due to Lesotho’s high unemployment rate and economic dependence on neighboring South Africa.
“These schools are particularly helping parents eager to seek employment in foreign lands but cannot take their children along,” reported the Lesotho Times. CGC’s monthly fees of 2,500 South African rand ($144) cover everything from classes and lodging to meals and general care, making it a more affordable option than leaving children with relatives or nannies.
While the phenomenon offers a solution for working-class parents, concerns arise regarding the impact on children’s psychological wellbeing. Experts like Matlheleko Tsatsi, a health and nutrition specialist, emphasize the critical need for parental presence during early childhood. Boarding schools, she argues, can lead to anxiety, PTSD, and homesickness.
UNICEF’s 2024 white paper reinforces this concern, stating that boarding schools for children under 14 should be prohibited due to the detrimental effects on development and family relationships.
Despite these concerns, the reality of Lesotho’s economic situation leaves many parents with few alternatives. Action Lesotho’s General Manager, Thapelo Khasela, highlights the systemic issues driving this trend, including the low minimum wage and lack of accessible entrepreneurial opportunities.
He advocates for government and non-profit collaboration to improve entrepreneurial spirit and access to funding, ultimately creating a more stable economic landscape that would discourage migration and family separation.
The boarding school boom in Lesotho is a sobering reminder of the challenges faced by many developing nations. While providing a temporary solution for working parents, it ultimately underscores the need for a broader approach to address economic disparities and ensure the wellbeing of children left behind.
First Piper 