With introduction of Free Primary Education in Lesotho, teachers are now leading and managing classrooms with increased numbers of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). This study seeks to understand how teachers lead and manage classrooms with OVC. It explores the experiences of teachers who lead and manage classrooms with OVC, and the support they receive from School Management Committees (SMCs) in their leadership and management of classrooms with OVC. Transformational leadership and democratic classroom management theories are used as theories underpinning the study. The study is located within the interpretive paradigm. It employs a qualitative approach. The data was collected from three primary schools in the Leribe dissemination centre in Lesotho. One community school and two church schools were sampled. Nine participants (3 from each school) were purposively selected. One teacher each was selected from the three different levels of teaching from each primary school. Semi-structured interviews with open-ended questions were used to generate data. The findings reveal that teachers experience increased existence of poverty among OVC, which is illustrated by severe hunger, lack of basic requirements like food, clothing and educational support. Teachers have formulated different strategies to deal with these issues in their classrooms. When difficult issues arise the principals play an important role in helping the teachers. Unfortunately, there is less support for teachers from other SMC members. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.

The United Nations Declaration of Human Rights has as one of its components and the world call to achieve education for all has led to a number of countries' introduction of Free Education. In Lesotho the call was heeded with the introduction of the Free Primary Education Programme in phases as from the year 2000. It was with the advent of the Free Primary Education Programme that a number of adults who never had formal schooling and or who had very little schooling took advantage and enrolled in the mainstream of primary education. This study therefore investigates the teaching and learning processes of adult learners in the mainstream of primary education where the curriculum is designed for the school age learners. It consists of the in-depth investigations of three primary schools in the Southern districts of Lesotho namely Moyeni Primary and Zibandayo Primary in the district of Quthing; and Naleli Primary in the district of Mohales'hoek; This study also investigates how these schools handled the education of adult learners while still not compromising the tuition of the school age learners. It also tried to find solutions as to how best the tuition of the adult learners could be handled so as to benefit them and the country as a whole. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, 2002.

This is a case study that investigated the Pitseng Primary School stakeholders' understanding of the purpose and objectives of Free Primary Education (FPE), the strategies that they have developed and adopted for the implementation of this programme, the challenges they encountered in their efforts to implement FPE, and how they addressed these challenges. Pitseng Primary School is located in the Leribe district in Lesotho. The study used the questionnaires which were administered to teachers and the governing body of Pitseng Primary School. Group interviews were conducted with 8 teachers and 3 members of the governing body. Individual interviews were conducted with 10 parents and the researcher used observations to collect and verify the data. This study was informed by critical, pragmatic and positivistic approaches to policy implementation. The findings of this study have revealed that the Pitseng Primary School's stakeholders understand the purpose of FPE as a vehicle to make all Basotho children get basic education, provide jobs for the needy Basotho people, eliminate hunger and malnutrition among the Basotho children, and reduce teenage and juvenile crime. The study has also found that there are no formally developed and adopted strategies for FPE implementation at Pisteng Primary. The government determines all the strategies, and the actions that various stakeholders take at the school/community level are an ad hoc response to the pressing demands of FPE implementation. Lack of resources, massive enrolment of pupils, lack of co-operation among stakeholders, and HIV/AIDS are some of the challenges that impede the effective implementation of FPE at Pitseng Primary School. The information that the government relayed to parents lacked insight of the practical implications for FPE implementation at Pitseng Primary and this has created a conflict between various stakeholders at the school regarding the implementation of this programme. To facilitate the school's efforts towards effective implementation of FPE and resource mobilisation, the study recommended that the stakeholders at Pitseng Primary School should hold regular meetings wherein they clarify the role and responsibilities that all parties have to play for the implementation of FPE. The government of Lesotho should give the school autonomy to develop appropriate strategies for the implementation of this programme. / Thesis (M.A.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, 2004.

In Lesotho, as in any other country, women face many challenges stemming from the difficulty of simultaneously transcending and accommodating to gender stereotypes, prejudices and cultural beliefs perpetuating women submissiveness. Although, the government of Lesotho has made attempts through the implementation of policy documents of gender equity, the challenges and barriers that women experience in educational leadership and management positions are still prevalent today. The study aims to explore the experiences of female principals who are already in educational leadership positions. The study adopted the qualitative approach which based on an interpretive paradigm. The qualitative methods of data production were used to get a deeper understanding of the female principals’ experiences. Individual semi-structured interviews, with open-ended questions were used to collect data. Field notes were also used to capture the cues which the tape recorder could not show or in case the tape malfunctions. The study employed the contribution of feminist theories as a guide to the study in order to liberate women from practices and structures that perpetuate their unequal status. The purposive sampling was used for selection of the participants and the sites. Five primary school female principals and four deputy principals were selected in the Leribe district of Lesotho. Responses of female principals and their deputies were based on three key questions: What are the female principals’ experiences as school leaders when they assume the leadership positions in Lesotho primary schools? How do female principals’ experiences affect their leadership roles? How do female principals deal with the challenges and experiences as they carry out their responsibilities? Data was subjected to content analysis. The findings reveal that organizational factors and teachers’ negative attitudes towards female primary school leaders are some of the factors that hold up the effective school administration. The findings also reveal that women principals in primary schools are competent and do possess the necessary skills to manage the schools effectively. Furthermore, with the necessary support of leadership and management styles they use, women can become successful in transform schools into institution of learning. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.

This study examined the factors that impact on positive pupil performance in the Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE) in the Botha-Bothe district primary schools of Lesotho. Given the pupil performance in Lesotho districts the study aimed to find out what factors lead to high pupil performance in Botha-Bothe district, as well as why some schools in the same district perform better than others, and how low performing schools and school developers can learn from the high performing schools. This study used a descriptive survey research design to collect quantitative and qualitative data from the Ministry of Education District officials, primary school principals and primary school teachers. A descriptive survey design used involved questionnaires interviews, and document analysis to collect data for the study. The research findings in this study revealed that the Ministry of Education Officials, principals and teachers specifically identified the following factors to have positive impact on pupil performance: • A teacher with positive relationships • Effective teaching and learning processes • Purposeful leadership by the principal • The way in which the teacher and pupils interact with each other. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.

This study investigated the nature and extent of implementation of music education in Lesotho primary schools in Maseru district. A case study conducted focused on Mohokare LEC Primary School and Hoohlo ACL Primary School. The findings from the study suggest that teachers at both schools had a relatively positive attitude towards music education and that they think the subject area should be taught in their schools. However, they suggest that effective implementation of the subject is hampered by several structural, contextual and curricular factors in the education system and the schools themselves. For example, preparations for implementation of music education were not sufficient (e.g., human and other resources were not in place). Teachers were not adequately trained in the subject itself as well as in its pedagogy. This has implications for the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) to strengthen pre-service and in-service music education. In addition, a clear music education policy should be drawn up to guide schools and district offices in the implementation of music education. This should be followed by a provision of adequate and appropriate resources needed for the process. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2004.

In Lesotho the provision of education and care for learners with special educational needs was primarily the responsibility of non-governmental organizations, churches and individuals until the Lesotho Ministry of Education took an active interest in the early 1980s. Inclusive education has, since then, become a critical aspect of the Lesotho education system. This study explores educators' experiences in teaching learners with learning disabilities in three primary schools in Lesotho. Using a qualitative, descriptive and theoretical research design, the study employs a case study approach to answer the following questions: What are educators' understandings of learning disabilities in the classroom? What are the challenges that educators experience in teaching learners with learning disabilities? The data was collected from a sample of six educators from three primary schools (two educators from each school) through semi-structured interviews, observations, document reviews and questionnaires. The study revealed that the educators have not been properly prepared for implementation of the policy of inclusive education; this is reflected by their limited understanding of inclusive education. It also shows a weakness in dissemination of inclusive education policies as educators are not well trained, especially to assist learners with learning disabilities. The focus tended to be only on children with hearing impairment, sight impairment and physical disability. Therefore there is a need for the Lesotho Ministry of Education, not only to review the policy and curriculum of inclusive education, but also unpack the dissemination process so that it empowers and supports educators with knowledge and practical strategies. There are many learning disabilities which educators do not seem to know and the training of educators for the implementation of IE should address the issue. / Thesis (M.Ed.) - University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2011.

This study sought to explore the management of teaching and learning resources in the context of free primary education in Lesotho primary schools. In addressing this purpose the qualitative methods of data production were used. The participants were the principals and teachers from three schools. Qualitative data was collected through individual semi structured interviews, observations and document analysis. This was analyzed using qualitative thematic approach. The findings showed that the schools studied had functional resource management committees. However the schools experienced a high shortage of resources. These resources largely come from the government but they are delivered late in most cases. Therefore teachers find themselves having to improvise and to use resources in turns. The study concludes that schools cannot rely on government alone in terms of teaching and learning resources. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2010.

This case study was located in the qualitative research approach under interpretive paradigm. The study explored school cultures associated with good academic performance in two selected primary schools in Lesotho, which perform well academically. It aimed to find out the types of school cultures of those schools and how they sustain their cultures. These schools are located in the Leribe district around Maputsoe area. The study was conducted by means of semi-structured interviews. Eighteen teachers were interviewed. The intention was to interview ten teachers in each school, but two teachers in Maliba School declined. Observation and document analysis methods were used for data production and verification. The findings of the study revealed several aspects involved in striving for good academic performance. There were lots of similarities in the findings in both schools. They were categorized into themes namely, time management, rituals and ceremonies, relationships within the school, teaching and learning processes; and school improvement and development. The findings revealed that subject teaching is the most appropriate technique and teachers choose subjects according to their expertise, so that every teacher imparts knowledge to learners satisfactorily. This practice also allows the adoption of various methods. Teachers manage to attempt several lessons in a day successfully. The findings revealed that openness among the colleagues is important because they disclose their problems and get assisted. The conducive environment allows dedication and commitment to work. A support from the principal and colleagues which results from good relationships empowers teachers in their work. This study recommends that the government should allow subject specialization for primary teachers and they should be trained for that. Good time management should be part of school culture as well as commitment. / Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Edgewood, 2009.