Lesotho

Politeness, good manners and willingness to server are values that are strongly encouraged in children.The general attitude of childhood is defined by the statement "Children benefit from serving their elders".

ntate (father) and mme (mother) are commonly used to address one's elders. Abuti (brother) and ausi (sister) are used when addressing someone of the same age. A child who answers a question with a simple yes is considered impolite. To be polite a child would answer yes my father or yes my mother.

Hospitality and generosity are expected and even those with very little will share their food with visitors.

Western style clothing is the norm in Lesotho. The most acceptable form of clothing for women is a dress. Women also cover their hair with a scarf, head cloth or hat. Many wear brightly colored blankets instead of coats. The blankets are usually store bought.

Staple foods are maize (corn) eaten as a thick paste and bread. Beef, chicken and mutton (lamb) are popular meats. Milk is drunk in a soured form. Breakfast and the evening meal are the main meals of the day. Some people go without a lunch meal. Families usually share a pot of nsima, picking a ball of the porridge and making a small scoop with the thumb to put the stew in the mouth. Urban people eat using European style of eating.

The man is considered the head of the household. Women are defined as farmers and bearers of children. Marriages where the man has more than one wife is common among the elite. Many marriages are still arranged by transfer of the bohadi (bride wealth) from the family of the groom to the family of the bride. Upon marriage a bride is expected to leave her family and live with the family of the husband. In Lesotho there are many clans which bear animal names. Recently family life has been disrupted as men live in all male housing and work in the gold mines.

Lesotho children like to play soccer. The only sports the children compete in at school are netball and running, these sports they compete in with other schools. They are organized every year by the school bodies.

There are a few unique games children play; however, they are of African cultures, for instance, Liketo an indigenous game using stones. Children also play games that are similar to European and American games like ‘Khati’ (skipping), ‘Lebekere’ (hide and seek) and Hop Scotch.

On a school day children will wake up, take a quick bath, have breakfast and be on the way to school. Some of the common foods for breakfast are bread and tea. A typical morning greeting for a child is LUMELA if greeting his peer; LUMELANG is greeting a number of peers or an elderly person.

On a typical day, some children walk quite a distance to and from home because there is no money for transportation, they lost it or they have spent the money on sweets and snacks. Some children get picked up by hired mini-buses or taxis. Depending on how young the child is, the parent takes them to school. Most children walk home. Transportation is provided by business people who saw the business opportunity.

On average primary school starts at 6 years to 12 years, however, because of unknown reasons, some children start at a late age. Classrooms are always crowded, now more than before because education is considered free. Desks are short, books are few, so the teachers normally read to the children and write on the board for notes, tasks, exams and/or assignments. Children provide their own writing books, exam books, writing utensils and stationery. Government schools do not offer computer lessons.

A typical day at school starts with assembly, first and second periods, break, two more periods, lunch time, then younger children go home. The older ones go back to classes till about 2 o’clock. A typical period lasts about 30 minutes, break lasts for about 15 minutes and lunch break for about an hour. Some children bring lunch to school, but the schools provides lunch. A teacher would probably have between 20 and 30 children per class. Sesotho is their primary language at home, except for a few children. Children are encouraged, or pressured to communicate in English in their classrooms. The main subjects taught at primary level are Maths, English, Sesotho, Science and Geography. About 80% go on to secondary level, for those who do not, it is mainly because they failed or due to financial reasons, as secondary education is not free. Children get a hiding when they have been naughty. Sometimes they get a hiding in front of the whole school in assembly or get expelled, but this normally happens in cases of pregnancy and alcohol. The Headmaster/Principal is the deciding body of what is to happen, what punishment is to be implemented. The teachers report to the principal. Every child must wear a uniform, socks, a dress for the females and khaki shorts or long pants for the males, a shirt, jersey, a belt and black shoes. Teachers are normally greeted in class rooms and because they are encouraged to communicate in English, students greet the teachers in English except in Sesotho classes. A typical lunch meal brought from home is a bread or sandwich and juice. Meals provided by the schools deferrer according to days. Some days the children will eat beans and papa (maize meal), papa and cabbage and porridge.

After school is playtime. Some children stay behind at school, playing. For the older children, they have afternoon classes which maybe hosted by one of the teachers at a fee every month, mainly when exams are approaching. The only sports the children partake in are netball and running, these are the only sports they compete in with other schools. They are organized every year by the school bodies. There are a few unique games children play; however, they are of African cultures, for instance, ‘Liketo’ an indigenous game using stones. Children also play games that are similar to European and American games like ‘Khati’ (skipping), ‘Lebekere’ (hide and seek) and Hop Scotch.

When children are not at school, maybe on weekends, they help around the house with light chores like washing dishes, feeding animals, sweeping and dusting and playing. For the older children, when they get home they ensure that their uniform is clean for the next day and if it is not, they wash it, polish their shoes, read and do assignments, play, have dinner and watch TV, wash dishes and maybe feeding any pets. This is assuming there is no helper around the house. There isn’t really any set time for bedtime. A typical meal nighttime meal is made of papa, moroho (cabbage/spinach) and eggs or meat.

For most families, education and communication in English are encouraged. Some families will ensure that their children are ready for the next day’s classes, encouraging the children to speak more English by conversing in English with them. Government schools don’t have Art, Drama and Music lessons; however, they have choirs and compete with other schools in singing.