Although the Botswana government has since independence endeavored to provide free basic education, the San people of Botswana have not enjoyed the same rights as other citizens. Poverty and inequality has seen limited access to education, which is further exacerbated by high dropout rates, and an education system that does not take into consideration the San’s cultural background. San access to education is inhibited by amongst other things an unfriendly and hostile school environment, stigmatization and marginalization, prejudices and stereotypes by teachers and other non-San students, corporal punishment by teachers, poverty and other economic factors which negatively affect the participation of San students and their parents in education. These problems are further embedded by the fact that the San’s language is not an accepted language of learning and teaching, which makes it difficult for San children to grasp concepts. There is also very limited knowledge on the right to education in the San community. Komku Trust aims to reduce the dropout rates of the San in Ghanzi District by; advocating for increased access to education, including mother-tongue education at least in early primary school and improving the participation of parents in the education of the children and management of schools.
© Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa, All Rights Reserved.
