Sino-Lesotho cooperation hailed

Limpho Sello

PRIME Minister Pakalitha Mosisili has hailed China for constructing the China-Lesotho middle school which he said, would help his government fulfil its pledge to invest in education as the best strategy to realising socio-economic development in the country.

In 2015, the Chinese government funded the construction of the M110 million school at Sehlabeng sa Thuathe in the Berea district. The school was officially handed over to the Lesotho government last Thursday.

Dr Mosisili said the investment came at an opportune time as “education is a critical component in developing an informed citizenry and a workforce for the sustainable economic and social development of Lesotho”.

He said the investment also demonstrated “the Chinese government’s resolve to continue contributing towards the socio-economic development of Lesotho and the African continent as a whole”.

“Let me take this opportunity to convey our deep gratitude to the people and government of China for this great gift,” Dr Mosisili said.

Dr Mosisili also appealed to the community and area chiefs to protect the new facility, adding, “now that three computers were stolen it is your responsibility to find those thieves and bring them to justice”.

The Minister of Education and Training, Motlalentoa Letsosa commended China for the high level of workmanship, saying this would ensure the buildings would last a long time.

“No wonder many people thought this is a university campus,” Mr Letsosa said.

Mr Letsosa also took the opportunity to restate his ministry’s commitment to reform the curriculum to ensure it produces graduates who would make positive contributions to the country’s developmental aspirations.

“The Ministry is looked up to for practical solutions.

“Accordingly, from January 2017, we are embarking on the reform of the post primary education curriculum in order to make it more responsive to the needs and aspirations of Basotho.

“Educational establishments such as this one are pivotal for effective implementation of the envisaged curriculum change. Our plans for this institution are great as we want it to help transform our educational landscape by providing education that is internationally recognised and which also responds to socio-economic needs of a Mosotho child,” Mr Letsosa said.

For his part, Chinese Ambassador, Sun Xianghua said the school had been built through a grant project under the Framework of the Forum of China-Africa Corporation (FOCAC) to enable Lesotho to implement its education strategy.

 “This shows that our two governments and nations share the same thinking and concept on education.

For this reason, our governments joined hands to build a high quality middle school in Lesotho,” Dr Xianghua said.