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Repetition

Article 7(2) of the Convention. Effective and time-bound measures. Clause (c). Access to free basic education. The Committee previously noted the Government’s information that, in Botswana, the seven-year primary education is free while secondary education is highly subsidized, with parents only contributing 5 per cent towards the cost of education. Moreover, children whose families cannot afford this contribution are exempted and are further provided with other educational necessities like uniforms and books. It noted that the Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MOESD) together with UNICEF have been working to develop an Out-of-School Education for Children Programme which seeks to secure a new deal for marginalized and out-of-school children. Finally, the Committee noted that the proportion of primary-aged children not in primary school has not dropped below 10 per cent in the last ten years, and that, according to UNICEF statistics for 2008–12, the net attendance rates in primary education are 85.5 per cent for boys and 88.2 per cent for girls, and in secondary education it is 35.5 per cent for boys and 43.6 per cent for girls.

It notes the Government’s statement in its report that a number of measures were initiated to improve attendance and reduce drop-out rates, such as the implementation of the Inclusive Education Policy, the introduction of the Reception Class Programme in primary schools in 2014, and the development of the Out-of-School Education for Children Policy. It notes that, according to the Government, the completion rate in primary education was 99.3 per cent in 2015. The Government also states that the Ministry of Basic Education has developed an access and retention draft plan, to be approved and implemented in 2018. As reported by the Global Education Monitoring Report of 2017–18, the gross enrolment ratio in primary education was 108 per cent in 2014–15, and the primary adjusted net enrolment ratio was 91 per cent. The Committee notes that, according to the UNESCO statistics, nearly 17 per cent of children are out of school. Considering that education is key in preventing the engagement of children in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to facilitate access to free basic education. It requests the Government to continue to provide information on the measures taken in this regard, and the results obtained, particularly with regard to increasing the school enrolment and completion rates and reducing school drop-out rates, in primary and secondary education.

Clause (d). Identifying and reaching out to children at special risk. HIV/AIDS orphans and other vulnerable children (OVCs). The Committee previously noted that a number of significant measures have been taken by the Government for the care and support of HIV/AIDS orphans and OVCs, in the framework of the national Programme for orphans and OVCs, such as maintaining a registry of all orphans and children in need of care, providing these children with food rations and toiletries on a monthly basis, supporting them with uniforms and transport facilities to school, and initiating a special dispensation programme through government sponsorship for tertiary education. The Committee also noted that, according to the Government, in the year 2013–14, a total of 1,600 orphans and OVCs were enrolled in schools and vocational training.

The Committee notes the Government’s indication that the national programme for orphans and OVCs continues to be implemented, as well as the special dispensation for facilitating access to tertiary and vocational education, which has sponsored 8,189 children since 2010, including 1,164 for the year 2017–18. It states that more than 27,000 children are currently registered as orphans. The Government also indicates that the programme for orphans and OVCs provides psychosocial support, aiming at building life skills among OVCs. The Committee notes that, in its report to the Human Rights Council for the Universal Periodic Review of January 2018, the Government stated that it would conduct the second situational analysis on OVCs during the course of 2017 (A/HRC/WG.6/29/BWA/1, paragraph 47).

The Committee observes that, in Botswana, according to estimates made by UNAIDS in 2017, approximately 61,000 children aged 0 to 17 years are orphans due to HIV/AIDS. It takes note of the Government’s indication, in its report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women of November 2017, that HIV disproportionally affects women and girls and, therefore, the National HIV/AIDS Policy and its strategic framework, revised in 2013, has embraced gender sensitivity (CEDAW/C/BWA/4, paragraph 19). It notes that, according to UNAIDS, the Government elaborated a new National Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS for the 2018–23 period, which has positioned HIV prevention as paramount. Recalling that OVCs are at an increased risk of being engaged in the worst forms of child labour, the Committee encourages the Government to pursue its efforts to ensure that children orphaned by HIV/AIDS and OVCs are prevented from being engaged in the worst forms of child labour. It requests the Government to continue providing information on the measures taken in this regard and on the results achieved, particularly as part of the national programme for orphans and OVCs and of the National Strategic Framework for HIV and AIDS for 2018–23.