Maseru, Feb. 26 — The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has no funds to sponsor students who completed the bridging programme at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) as it was not included in the 2025/2026 budget.
This was said by the Minister of Finance Dr. Rets’elisistse Matlanynae in her statement delivered in the National Assembly on Thursday, saying the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) only sponsors 1620 students who have passed LGCSE as per quota.
She indicated that they held a meeting earlier which brought together herself, the Minister of Education and Training, representatives from NUL, Council of Higher Education and NMDS amongst others to find an amicable solution to the problem.
She said they advised NUL to prioritise and decide whether the students who completed the bridging programme should be included in the quota in the next financial year since it also admits 800 more, self-sponsored students.
“We encourage NUL to think deeply about this matter before making a decision, as it has also not informed the government through my Ministry, when it enrolled students in the bridging programme,” she stressed.
Meanwhile it was revealed that at least 162 students who completed their bridging programme at NUL did not get scholarship from NMDS although they were allowed to continue with their studies at the University and even sat for examinations.
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