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This could be the most inspirational night school : NPR
NPR • • world
Key Points:
- In Lesotho, tens of thousands of boys work as shepherds, often missing out on formal education due to poverty and tradition, with nearly half of all boys engaged in herding according to a 2018 World Bank analysis.
- To address this, volunteer-run night schools like the Good Shepherd School offer basic education classes after herding hours, providing literacy and numeracy skills to more than 40 students ranging from teenagers to adults.
- These night schools face financial and bureaucratic challenges but represent a critical opportunity for isolated shepherd boys to gain education, socialize, and dream of futures beyond herding, with some students advancing to higher education.
- The schools also provide social support and health awareness programs, helping shepherds overcome the loneliness and social skill deficits caused by their isolated work in the mountains.
- Educators like Mampho Makha, who teaches multiple night schools in rural areas, emphasize the importance of literacy for independence and continue their work despite limited government support and funding delays.
