What You Need to Know
A consultative meeting was held at Lerotholi Polytechnic in Maseru to discuss a new bill aimed at transforming the institution into a University of Science and Technology. The Rector emphasized the need for cabinet clearance and stakeholder input to ensure the transition aligns with national educational needs and global standards.
Africa-Press – Lesotho. Consultation meeting held at Lerotholi Polytechnic in Maseru on Thursday to discuss the development of a new bill that is mainly to transform it from a Polytechnic to a University of Science and Technology.
Speaking at the meeting the Institution Rector Mr. Tlali Sepiriti indicated that this transition bill is yet to be presented through the office of the Parliamentary Council to be approved.
He mentioned that they need clearance from the cabinet to work on their bill before it gets into action.
He emphasized that they have strategic plans for this transition hence they already offer courses such as Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering, Bachelor of Architecture and others that identifies them as a university.
He stated that they are to change the structure of institution because the change is more therefore they have to look at things that stakeholders want them to transit into and reflect on.
Institution Registrar Mrs. Maleshoane Lepota -Mosakeng mentioned that with this transition they have aligned with the higher institutional act of Council on Higher Education (CHE) and align with standards of higher education globally.
She emphasized that now this transition focuses on fulfilling the needs of Lesotho by focusing on programmes relevant that enhance the economy.
She pointed out that the meeting is between the institution alumni, industry and development partners that engaged into discussions to avoid trending for wrong reasons.
Bursar and Chief Financial Officer at LP Mr. Teko Seboko stated that by the end of June the bill must be ready and presented.
He outlined that they broke this bill in categories to make it more manageable where on Tuesday they invited and met with CHE, Institute of Accountants and others.
Mr. Seboko stated that they want to know exactly what type of university they want be, they want to be more than just a traditional University and be more of a practical school.
He stated that by doing this they will begin to emphasize and focus more on research in order to come with solutions that help the Nation practically.
Bursar said that by this transition they don’t change anything besides fulfilling the gaps identified by stakeholders and elevate status. He said that they just want to be technologically oriented as they use science into technology.
This important engagement marks a significant milestone in shaping the future of Lerotholi Polytechnic, building a stronger foundation for a world-class institution that will drive science, technology, and national development.
Lerotholi Polytechnic has been a key institution in Lesotho’s higher education landscape, offering various technical programs. The proposed transition to a university aims to enhance its educational offerings and better serve the country’s economic needs. This change reflects a broader trend in higher education towards more specialized and practical training to meet the demands of the modern workforce. The institution seeks to align itself with global standards while addressing local challenges through innovative programs.
