Responding to a question in Parliament, Lesaso added that of the above figure, 1,105 is the number of dropouts in primary schools while 2,566 student dropouts are from secondary schools. The dropout rate for primary schools is 0.3 percent whereas at the secondary level the rate is 1.3 percent.
Lesaso was responding to questions from Ngami Member of Parliament (MP), Caterpillar Hikuama who had asked among others the causes or reasons for dropping out of school. “Main reasons for dropouts are dissertation and truancy, while the other reasons are religion, abuse by parents, substance abuse, bullying, teenage pregnancy, early marriages, illness, expulsion and fees in private schools,” he disclosed. He said children who are out of school are those that have once been at school but dropped out due to various reasons and have not returned to school.
Asked to state what government efforts or measures are taken to ensure that no child is left out of education, Lesaso said government has built schools in order to make it possible for children to access their education, therefore by availing learning facilities government makes it possible for children to access schools. Explaining how the issue of school dropouts has become a cause of concern in Botswana, the Assistant Minister indicated that the school going age for primary learners in government public schools starts at five years, reception class up to 17 years completion of senior secondary level.
“In private schools it varies and children start at three years up to 18 years for Form six. What should be noted is that there are over age children in each level, pre-primary, primary and secondary such that you will find learners up to 19 years either at primary or secondary yet in essence they should be at tertiary institutions or should have completed basic education,” he explained.
Just last year the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) expressed concern over learners dropping out of school. The committee made a recommendation that a tracer study should be done to find out what happens to the learners that drop out of school and the reasons for the low progression and completion rates in secondary schools.
According to the PAC report, which was released for the 58th meeting, it showed that the MoBE enrolment, in primary school is about 337,655 on average but the number declines to an average of 180,925 at secondary school which is 54% of the enrolment at primary school.
“The committee is concerned about the number of learners that drop out of the education system and its effect on the country’s goal of having an inclusive and accessible quality education for all. “On average, from primary to secondary schools, the system loses 54% of the learners along the way. The factors affecting enrolment and transition rates need to be investigated including what happens to the learners that drop out given that not having secondary education affects the employability and wellbeing of the youth,” the report indicated.
