‘Mantoetse Maama
MASERU — The Ministry of Education and Training says it will this year award scholarships to 2 000 gifted but orphaned children.
The ministry’s public relations officer, ‘Matšepo Mohau, said the scholarships were part of the government’s programme to provide free education to disadvantaged children.
“Scholars who qualify for the scholarships should be aged 18 and below. They should also be attending registered public and government schools,” Mohau said.
She said the scholarships will cover the students’ tuition, uniforms, boarding fees as well as stationery.
Mohau said the grants will be disbursed through the Ministry of Social Welfare.
She added that at least 20 000 children had so far benefited from the programme since it was launched in 2000.
One of the beneficiaries, Limpho Mohale, said were it not for the scholarship she would be have dropped out of school as her grandmother cannot afford to pay her fees.
“In 2010 I only went to school during the first quarter as my grandmother could not afford to pay my fees and other needs like stationery and uniform,” Mohale, who is a
Form B student, told the Sunday Express.
She said she was determined to work harder to ensure she continues to receive the scholarship.
Mohau said guardians, local chiefs and school authorities should assist vulnerable children to apply for the grants.
“There should be a copy of a letter from the chief that verifies the information provided, death certificates copies of the student’s parents, birth certificate and admission letter from the school,” she said.
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