Lesotho - School enrollment, primary (% gross)

The value for School enrollment, primary (% gross) in Lesotho was 120.90 as of 2017. As the graph below shows, over the past 47 years this indicator reached a maximum value of 130.61 in 2006 and a minimum value of 83.74 in 1971.

Definition: Gross enrollment ratio is the ratio of total enrollment, regardless of age, to the population of the age group that officially corresponds to the level of education shown. Primary education provides children with basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills along with an elementary understanding of such subjects as history, geography, natural science, social science, art, and music.

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics (http://uis.unesco.org/)

See also:

Year Value
1970 87.45
1971 83.74
1972 84.21
1973 87.26
1974 98.80
1975 97.85
1976 95.11
1977 93.82
1978 91.78
1979 91.60
1980 92.34
1981 94.58
1982 98.25
1983 99.20
1984 98.93
1985 101.64
1986 100.49
1987 101.66
1988 103.06
1989 101.44
1990 99.91
1991 100.75
1992 99.45
1993 95.73
1994 98.07
1995 100.46
1996 98.82
1997 96.85
1998 96.91
1999 96.11
2000 109.26
2001 112.41
2002 116.07
2003 122.33
2004 124.96
2005 127.05
2006 130.61
2007 125.23
2008 125.07
2009 124.01
2010 124.75
2011 123.10
2012 121.29
2013 117.20
2014 116.59
2015 116.63
2016 117.70
2017 120.90

Development Relevance: Gross enrollment ratios indicate the capacity of each level of the education system, but a high ratio may reflect a substantial number of overage children enrolled in each grade because of repetition or late entry rather than a successful education system. The net enrollment rate excludes overage and underage students and more accurately captures the system's coverage and internal efficiency. Differences between the gross enrollment ratio and the net enrollment rate show the incidence of overage and underage enrollments.

Limitations and Exceptions: Enrollment indicators are based on annual school surveys, but do not necessarily reflect actual attendance or dropout rates during the year. Also, the length of education differs across countries and can influence enrollment rates, although the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) tries to minimize the difference. For example, a shorter duration for primary education tends to increase the rate; a longer one to decrease it (in part because older children are more at risk of dropping out). Moreover, age at enrollment may be inaccurately estimated or misstated, especially in communities where registration of births is not strictly enforced.

Other Notes: Data retrieved via API in March 2019. For detailed information on the observation level (e.g. National Estimation, UIS Estimation, or Category not applicable), please visit UIS.Stat (http://data.uis.unesco.org/).

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Gross enrollment ratio for primary school is calculated by dividing the number of students enrolled in primary education regardless of age by the population of the age group which officially corresponds to primary education, and multiplying by 100. Data on education are collected by the UNESCO Institute for Statistics from official responses to its annual education survey. All the data are mapped to the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED) to ensure the comparability of education programs at the international level. The current version was formally adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2011. Population data are drawn from the United Nations Population Division. Using a single source for population data standardizes definitions, estimations, and interpolation methods, ensuring a consistent methodology across countries and minimizing potential enumeration problems in national censuses. The reference years reflect the school year for which the data are presented. In some countries the school year spans two calendar years (for example, from September 2010 to June 2011); in these cases the reference year refers to the year in which the school year ended (2011 in the example).

Aggregation method: Weighted average

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Education Indicators

Sub-Topic: Participation