The Minister of Education and Training, Professor Ntoi Rapapa says the government has decided to sponsor the 256 unsponsored National University of Lesotho (NUL) students.
This, he said on Wednesday following the NUL students engaging in burning wood and tyres blocking the public road passing along the University on Tuesday after what they had termed the ‘NUL Shutdown’ seemed to have borne no results.
Prior to the burning of tyres and singing within the campus and along the road, the students engaged in the ‘NUL Shutdown’ which resulted in examinations being suspended. They were demanding a written and official commitment from the government to pay for unsponsored students and that they will also get their allowances including rent by June 01.
Professor Rapapa said the government has decided to sponsor the unsponsored students by paying their tuition fee only so that they will get their results.
He said such students will not get other allowances which are given to the sponsored ones.
He added that for the new academic year, such students will have to apply for sponsorship as other students do so that they proceed with their studies.
He said if they have passed and are within the quota of applicants then it means they will secure sponsorship.
Moreover, he stated that the government has different quotas of students to sponsor in different institutions of higher learning due to the budget allocated by the National Assembly, therefore, saying it becomes a problem if institutions admit more students who have not secured sponsorship
Again, he noted that NUL has failed to carry out their lectures in line with the academic calendar which shows that examinations will be completed by the end of May, saying the budget for allowances falls within this almanac and if activities go beyond then problems will arise as the budget will be exhausted.
Therefore, he advised all institutions of higher learning to ensure that they issue admissions on time or in May so that applicants will have admissions letters when they go to National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) to apply, emphasising that this would help NUL to be able to stick to almanac that starts lectures in August.
He stressed that sticking to the academic almanac and organising examinations in time will speed up the renewal of sponsorship contracts for continuing students hence reducing protests by students.
On the other hand, Students Representative Council (SRC) Secretary of Education and Students Affairs Moeketsi Rapuleng embraced the decision saying that they are satisfied as it is extending a hand to the said students.
Meanwhile, the NUL Management on Tuesday ordered students to vacate the campus as examinations will not continue, saying they should return on Sunday as examinations will resume on Monday of June 5, 20223.
Source: LENA 31/05/2023
