Maseru – Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) has announced a significant reduction in tuition fees for the upcoming 2024/2025 academic year. This move aims to make higher education more accessible to Basotho community, reflecting the institution’s commitment to educational advancement and economic growth.
The Basotho nation will remember that LP began offering degree programs in the current 2023/2024 academic year. To ensure these programs are fully supported, the institution applied to the Government of Lesotho, through the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS), to funding. LP requested that the list of government-funded students be reviewed and expanded, highlighting the alignment of these new programs with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Government of Lesotho’s economic objectives as outlined in the National Strategic Development Plan II (NSDP II).
In a show of support, NMDS has included the new programs in its funding list. However, the funding will only cover 30 students out of the 60 applicants for each of the new programs. These programs include: Bachelor of Engineering in Irrigation and Drainage, Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Computer Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering, Technology in Electronics and Telecommunications and Bachelor of Engineering Technology in Power Systems
Each program consist of a total of 120 credits, emphasizing their comprehensive and demandingacademic structure. Despite the partial coverage by NMDS, LP is intensely aware of the need to assist many students who will not be funded by the government.
To extend a helping hand to these students, LP has decided to reduce tuition fees for all self-paying students, except for those repeating a year. The reduction is structured to encourage prompt payment and academic excellence. Students who pay within three months will receive a 20% reduction, while those who pay within five months will receive 15% reduction. Payments made within ten months, covering full academic year will receive a 10% reduction.
Additionally, students who excel in their studies, according to the school’s criteria and regulations, will receive an additional 10% reduction on top of the above reductions.
These reductions will take effect starting from August 2024, in line with the academic calendar. This initiative is not only a testament to Lerotholi Polytechnic’s dedication to education but also a strategic effort to foster economic development in Lesotho.
LP is calling on the government, businesses, and the broader Basotho community to support this initiative. It is through such collective efforts that Lesotho can equip its citizens with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive the nation forward. Graduates from these programs will be instrumental in creating jobs, developing infrastructure, and contributing to the country’s overall prosperity.
By investing in education, LP aims to produce graduates who can build roads, bridges, dams, electricity networks, and other various critical infrastructures. This initiative highlights the institution’s role in shaping the future of Lesotho, ensuring that the nation remains competitive and capable of meeting its development goals.
The decision to reduce tuition fees is more than just a financial adjustment, but a commitment to Basotho people and a step towards making education a vehicle for sustainable development and economic empowerment. As LP continues to grow and adapt to the needs of its students, it remains a symbol of hope and progress for the entire nation.
LP’s bold move to reduce tuition fees for the 2024/2025 academic year is a significant stride towards making higher education more accessible and affordable. This initiative is dignified to impact the lives of many students positively, fostering more educated and skilled workforce that will drive Lesotho’s development.
