CHE ENCOURAGES INSTITUTIONS TO DIVERSIFY THIER OFFERINGS

CHE Encourages Institutions to Diversify Their Offerings

The Council on Higher Education has persistently edged institutions to diversify their offerings by introducing new programmes to respond to the national priorities of the Kingdom. Colleges and Polytechnics are generally offering diploma level qualifications, so, they are encouraged to introduce Degrees, while universities are pushed towards higher level qualifications such as Master’s and Doctoral Degrees. The National University of Lesotho (NUL), Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) and Lesotho College of Education (LCE) have responded positively to this call.

NUL is working towards introducing two Master’s programmes and two other programmes at a lower level. They are being considered by CHE for accreditation.  LP has submitted four Engineering Degrees, one Architecture Degree and an LQF  Level 5 Bridging Programme to CHE for accreditation which they plan to offer in the near future. Similarly, LCE is making arrangements to offer two degree programmes in Primary Education and Preschool and Foundation Phase. The programmes are currently being reviewed for accreditation. It is important to note that while these institutions have been granted permission by CHE to start preparations for offering the programmes, including advertising them, they can only be offered if they have been accredited.

Introduction of all these programmes will go a long way, not only towards responding to the national priorities, but also to reduce the number of Basotho students who study outside the country at a very high cost to the country. The programmes should also help the institutions to attract international students, whose numbers are declining significantly.