Textbook Rental Scheme for Junior Certificate Next Year

The Ministry of Education and Training will introduce a textbook rental scheme in the country’s junior secondary schools from January 2004, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training, Mr. Lesao Lehohla, has announced.

Speaking at a meeting of headmasters and principals of the country’s registered secondary and high schools in Maseru on December 15, the Minister said the high level of unemployment in the country and skyrocketing textbook prices render it extremely difficult for parents to shoulder the responsibility of buying books for their children.

"Through the Text Book Rental Scheme, it is estimated that about 70,000 students in forms A, B, and C will benefit at the beginning of 2004."

Government anticipates that M42 million will be invested in the scheme and  26,400 Form A students are expected to benefit from the scheme.

Mr. Lehohla said the scheme will initially start with the first year of Junior certificate level students and will gradually be extended to the three classes by January 2006.

The introduction of  the Textbook Rental Scheme marks another important event in the development of the education system in Lesotho and indeed another milestone in the achievement of the strategic objectives of the ministry, which include improving access, quality and equity of education at all levels, he said.

At present parents are spending an average of M1,020 on form 'A' textbooks per child per year, but through government subsidized Textbook Rental Scheme, this cost will be reduced to between M200 to M300 per annum payable to the school in the form of a textbook rental fee.

"It is planned that after the three-year period starting in 2004, the scheme will be self-sustaining with all replacement copies of the required textbooks and any other instructional materials funded from the accumulated rental fees," he said.

The Minister said all schools are required to open a special bank account, in which the textbook rental charges will be accumulated and held safely. It is through the bank account that each secondary school will become financially self-sufficient for the procurement of approved textbooks and other instructional materials.

17 December 2003