Parents in Zimbabwe could face up to two years in jail if they fail to send their children to school.
The government has made education compulsory up to the age of 16 to stem rising school dropout figures blamed on the poor state of the economy. It is estimated that in some parts of the country 20% of children do not go to school.
The new law also makes it is an offence to expel children for non-payment of school fees or for becoming pregnant.
But some believe the government is shirking its responsibilities amidst broken promises to provide free basic education and a chronic shortage of state schools.
The high drop-out rate has also been blamed on pregnancy, early marriages, the long distances to schools and a lack of interest, our reporter adds.
So what do you think? Is this a bold measure to try to deal with a serious problem or is this a step to far?
Photo / Image Credit :
"Purchase of handbooks and books for the secondary school in Matjinge, Zimbabwe" by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland under licensed to (CC-ND 2.0)
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