Qacha’s Nek, Aug. 12 — In the remote villages of Qacha’s Nek, where the hills stretch into the horizon and cattle bells ring through the valleys, a quiet crisis is unfolding.
Despite the Lesotho government’s commitment to free primary education, children in areas like Mosafeleng are being denied not only their right to learn but also the simple joys of childhood. This is deeply ingrained in cultural norms that prioritize herding over education.
The Government of Lesotho has ratified numerous international agreements to protect children’s rights, including the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Yet, these protections seem to hold little weight in the face of tradition.
In these communities, children as young as seven are forced to abandon their education to herd animals, often for their families or in exchange for meager wages. Others struggle to balance school with the demands of herding, their attendance sporadic at best.
