Love, Care and Protection from Infancy to Adolescence

PSS in Action in an Educational Setting : Lesotho High School in Maseru Lesotho

Author: Moleboheng J. M Ncholu.

PSS Forum 3rd September 2015 Victoria Falls Zimbabwe

Introduction Every child has a right to love, care and

protection. As a teacher I know that it is difficult to separate these aspects when it comes to children’s wellbeing. A happy child is one whose basic and psychosocial needs are met.

I am a teacher in Lesotho I have been working with children at risk since 1999 after I graduated from the National University of Lesotho.

In 2010 I did a Situated Supported Distance Learning ( SSDL) 18 months course in Community Based Work with Children and the Youth offered by the University of Kwazulu Natal.

Why PSS at LHS Since I graduated I have taken it upon myself to

see that my learners’ wellbeing is guaranteed by implementing programmes, providing laws and policies and also engaging in activities that advocate for PSS at my institution, to address the learners ongoing emotional, social and spiritual concerns and needs. Particularly those that are living in adversity.

As a school we are a center of care and support so if children do not get help from their homes and or societies they live in then they should at LHS.

Lesotho High School History/ Background

Built in the capital city Maseru the then Basutoland high School became to be known as Lesotho High School since our independence in 1966,opened its doors to the first batch of students -about 30 of them-on the 22 February 1939.

To date on the 76th year of its existence LHS is classified as a large school. We have 1315 students registered in January 2015,and 54 granted teachers; 22 males and 32 females grouped under 7 departments.

Lesotho High School upholds pursuit of excellence in the knowledge and development of character, body and mind as a bridge to further studies and service to mankind. This is achieved through teaching and learning and also other children centered extra curricula activities like sport.

What is being done and how… I raise awareness amongst learners on the

policies that advocate zero tolerance approach to child abuse; like the Children Protection Policy, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Lesotho National Policy on Orphans and Vulnerable Children

The Life Skills Education for Secondary Schools in Lesotho; I teach learners about neglect, exploitation and violence amongst others, and how they should voice their concerns regarding all these, as they have a right to be listened to, so that they can be assisted accordingly.

continuation As a school we organize students gathering

with the Master of the High Court, the Lesotho Mounted Police Child Protection Unit and the Fire Department, to educate our learners about the roles that these Government Department play in Society and what steps they should take when they need help.

I also engage the learners that I am a class teacher to with social responsibility activities, as stipulated in our class policy that has been formulated by the learners.

Success stories As a result of our class policy on the aspect of social

responsibility, my learners have engaged in a number of meaningful activities in providing love, care and support to those in need. For instance, we have donated educational toys, children’s books and sweets to the Queen Mamohato Memorial Hospital children's ward.

The learners raise funds quarterly to help needy learners to get uniform and school shoes. Further more, one learner has been adopted by his classmates parents after he talked about him at his home (this learner has been neglected by his extended family after his mother’s death in 2013).

Police Fire and Rescue Department demonstration

Children at play

Children at play

Children Participation in Schools activities

Success stories cont. This learner now has a family to go to when

school closes for holidays and he gets all the love, care and support he needs.

We have secured a place for him at the school border and so this means learning for him has become easier for he has a safe place to study.

We have also secured a full scholarship from the Standard Lesotho Bank for the duration of his studies at Lesotho High School up until tertiary provided he continues to perform well, also they promised to give him a job after that.

Success stories cont. With the assistance from the Ministry of Social

Development, this year alone there are 1315 learners in our school we were able to secure 34 sponsorships for orphaned and vulnerable learners from the Ministry of Education and Training, 39 learners are sponsored by the Ministry of Social Development and 36 others by various sponsors.

As a result of the student gathering activity that was held at our school by the Master of High Court, we have been able to assist one HIV positive double orphaned boy in Form C who since his mothers death has been living with his cousins who abuse him physically and emotionally to get back his mothers estate.

challenges Some poverty stricken and HIV positive learners

still shy away from disclosing their status to their class teachers so that they can get help, it is also difficult for me to disclose HIV positive learners to other subject teachers as there is still the stigma associated with HIV and AIDS in my country

As a result my learners who are living with HIV -and are on medication- sometimes have problems during other lessons besides Life Skills because of side effects of the ARVs and teachers face difficulties in dealing with such cases.

Challenges cont. Since learners in my school still hide their HIV

status from their peers, it is still very difficult to form HIV and AIDS Clubs to communicate with them about the virus – giving children the opportunity to talk about their feelings and experiences with others allows them to realize that they are not alone and helps to build self confidence.

Therefore as an institution we still have a challenge in getting to know what the learners have to say regarding some issues like HIV and AIDS.

Recommendations Psychosocial support is an important

aspect o children’s rights and must be included by organizations concerned with children as a part of their programming framework.

Therefore all teachers in all schools in Africa should enroll for PSS so that we can all be equipped with the necessary skills in dealing with children.

Thank you, Kea leboha……………