[stop-imf] Botswana brings back school fees

[Robert Weissman]

January 11, 2006
BBC News

Botswana brings back school fees
*Botswana has announced the reintroduction of fees in its state
secondary schools after more than 20 years of free education. *

The measure will affect over 170,000 children aged between 13 and 18.

The government says the move is part of a cost-cutting exercise because
of falling revenues.

Botswana's Education Minister, Jacob Nkateand, described the new fees as
"a pittance" and said that parents had a duty to share the burden of the
cost.

Pupils at Community Secondary Schools will pay 194 pula ($36) a year,
while a year at a senior secondary school will cost 452 pula ($84).

Opponents of the charges, including teaching unions, say the fees will
deter parents from sending their children to school.

Families will be means tested and there will be some exemptions for the
poorest.

The BBC's Lucas Letlhogile in Gaborone says rising unemployment means
that many poor people will not be able to afford fees, and that rural
farmers with an irregular income will be worst affected.

He says the government has been trying, through the media, to create the
impression that most citizens are keen to pay fees.

* South African promises *

Meanwhile, in neighbouring South Africa there are concerns over the
government's failure to provide free schools to the poorest children,
despite repeated promises.

As schools reopen after the summer holidays, Education Minister Naledi
Pandor has said the government is committed to introducing no-fee
schools in the poorest neighbourhoods.

"Ensuring access to education for all in our country remains a
priority," Mrs Pandor said, pointing out that two provinces had started
to identify schools to be declared no-fee schools.

But critics pointed out that an initiative to offer free schooling to
40% of South African pupils was first promised in 2002, but had not yet
been put into practice.

"The ministry of education is highly irresponsible," South African
Democratic Teachers' Union general secretary Thulas Nxesi told The Star
newspaper.

"We had hoped that the figure would be more than 40% by now."

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/4601360.stm

Published: 2006/01/11 11:20:08 GMT