Botswana UDC government reverses free education pledge
Diamond revenue collapse forces the Umbrella for Democratic Change to retain secondary school fees.
Botswana's Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) government has reversed its pledge to provide free public education due to a collapse in diamond revenue. The decision means secondary school fees will be retained, sparking a dispute over election promises and national finances.
The UDC's manifesto, themed 'Inclusive Growth, Quality Lives,' had committed to guaranteeing quality education as a human right. This was widely understood as a promise to end cost-sharing school fees, which have been in place since 2006.
The government faces mounting financial constraints as the diamond mining sector, vital to Botswana's economy, experiences a macroeconomic crisis. The UDC government is now engaged in a war of words over the state's public finances and its campaign commitments.
Why it mattersThe UDC government's reversal on free education directly impacts households that relied on the promise to reduce school costs.