The Minister of Education and Training says relations between the governments of Lesotho and the People’s Republic of China continue to be strong each day.

Dr ‘Mamphono Khaketla was speaking at the sod-turning ceremony to mark the construction of a secondary school in Thaba-Tseka. She thanked government of the People's Republic of China for financing the construction of two rural schools to be undertaken in Thaba-Tseka and Qacha’s Nek.

She said China has donated M11 million for construction of these schools adding that the construction in Thaba-Tseka is expected to end within seven months to enable the school to start operating next year.

The Minister noted that the ministry took an initiative to build new schools and introducing combined schools address the situation of overcrowding in schools, which she said has been caused by free primary education that was introduced in the country in 2000.

There are 64 combined schools in the country and Thaba-Tseka has five of such schools.

Dr Khaketla said the government is doing its best to support and strengthen education for all in Lesotho, saying that education is the key to life and so to tackling poverty eradication.

She therefore appealed to the Thaba-Tseka Community to support education and protect the school to be constructed. Furthermore, she urged the public not to obstruct the construction of the school as it is part of the development.

Speaking at the same occasion, the Chinese Ambassador to Lesotho, Mr. Qiu Bohua said the school to be constructed will comprise of among others; classrooms, laboratories, offices and dormitories. He estimated the cost of the two schools to be constructed at M5.5 million each.

Mr. Bohua added that the contractor of the project has been serving Lesotho for nearly 20 years and has constructed buildings such as the National Convention Centre. He therefore assured the public that the construction will be completed on schedule.

Mr.Bohua indicated that the project is one of the follow-up measures of the commitments made by the Chinese President Hu Jintao at Beijing Summit on China-Africa Cooperation held in November 2006.

China has promised to assist and promote development of societies and economy of African countries within three years.

Source: LENA 26/08/2008