Africa-Press – Lesotho. Over M2 million Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Tourism and Hospitality equipment was donated to Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) by the Ministry
of Trade and Industry, with funding from the African Development Bank. LP Rector Professor Spirit Tlali, speaking at the occasion, the donation will go a
long way in helping the institution to embarked on and achieve noble developments. He said their programmes are currently being reviewed in alignment with Lesotho Qualifications Framework.
“For this reason, these programmes will require state of the art equipment such as the one that has been provided,” he informed.
Tlali added that the school of Enterprise and Management, under which these two programmes fall, is designing degree programmes. The institution is in the process of resuscitating the cafeteria for both students
and the staff, and the equipment will also be used for that purpose as students will also be learning in the process. “We are also trying to provide access of
computers to students, and provision of the donation will increase the number of computers we already have,” he mentioned. Tlali stated that this equipment
will immensely contribute to teaching and learning, and it is expected that the students will be equipped with the necessary skills for a meaningful contribution to the socio-economic development of this country.
Deputy Minister of Education and Training Hon. ‘Maletsema Lenkoane Letsoela said this is an improvement of the institution curriculum through specialized consultants and benchmarkingdonation
of computers and booking software. “The institution received teaching equipment of the Hospitality Programme in the form of kitchen equipment and utensils,
cutlery and crockery as well as beds and linen. It also received teaching equipment of the Tourism Programme in the form of adventure equipment,” she explained.
Letsoela further indicated that the two programmes of Hospitality and Tourism at LP will flourish. She said students and lecturers will interface more professionally and effectively because of these improvements.
Minister of Trade and Industry Dr. Thabiso Molapo said his ministry, through the Economic Diversification Support Project (EDSP) supported the Ministry of
Tourism, Environment and Culture to engage a company that provided advisory services for development of well-equipped Tourism Training Facilities at LP
with the aim of developing a workforce with market-oriented skills within the tourism and hospitality sector. “It is my belief that the equipment and the
new curriculum will contribute to achievement of positive results that will address the existing skills mismatch between the education system and the workplace,” he delineated.
Molapo further mentioned that the support was provided to ensure that the facilities at LP become more functional, professionally run and well maintained, thus preserving the image of the
country adding that the objective is to ensure that the tourism and hospitality sector has relevant skills sets, knowledge and attitude so as to deliver high quality products.
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