Africa-Press – Lesotho. While primary education recently benefits from technology and internet access through wider access to diverse resources, personalized and collaborative learning, and the development of crucial digital skills, Thaba-Chitja Primary School Principal Ms. Mats’eliso Mabese envies this for her learners.
Thaba-Chitja Primary School founded around early 1900s is located at Ha-Elia, Roma about 45km from Maseru town with the current roll of 197 learners from grade one to seven.
Mrs. Mabese said equitable internet access remains a challenge especially with lack of electricity saying this potentially creates a digital divide that negatively impacts students in this era of technology evolving each day.
She said Thaba-Chitja like any other school require computer lab with reliable connectivity to support both classroom and remote learning needs but was quick to point out, all that could be achieved if only there was access to electricity.
Therefore she urged the government to ensure availability of electricity within Ha-Elia for benefit of community and learners’ education.
“Internet provides students with a vast array of educational content, including articles, videos, and online courses, far exceeding traditional resources. Students with access to internet can access different learning methods, gain a global perspective, and participate in self-paced learning”, she stressed.
She emphasised that technology helps children develop practical digital skills necessary for modern life and encourages adaptability to new technologies which she said she believes is ideal for all students in urban and rural schools.
On the other hand, Ms. Mabese highlighted that though the school has enough classrooms, the Early Childhood Care Development (ECCD) does not have a proper classroom saying they are using an old dilapidated classroom therefore urging government to assist in providing such for conducive learning.
She added that the school does not proper kitchen and storeroom. She further indicated that inaccessible roads is also a challenge saying that learners have to carry food parcels from Ha-Mokotla which is about an hour away from school.
Despite the many challenges, the Agency has discovered that Thaba-Chitja Primary School in terms of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 6) on Clean Water and Sanitation, is abiding as there is access to clean water and toilets for learners and teachers.
Meanwhile, Community Councillor and School Board Member Mrs. ‘Mamonica Qhobosheane has commended the Principal who took her tenure in February this for outstanding job saying that their children can now confidently speak English which she said has been a mode of communication at the school since Ms. Mabese arrived.
She assured that they are going to work hard to ensure that the learners’ roll goes up next year saying it had declined due to poor previous management of the school.
Lesotho has achieved near-universal access to primary education but faces challenges in secondary completion, quality, and equity for vulnerable groups.
Recent progress includes implementing a free primary education policy, improving early childhood education through a new curriculum and focusing on a renewed strategic plan for quality and efficiency.
However, issues like inadequate infrastructure, high dropout rates, and a disconnection between education and workforce needs remain significant obstacles that are being addressed through ongoing partnerships and initiatives.
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