Maseru, Aug. 18 — Enrolment at Furumela Qomo-Qomo Primary School near Roma in the Maseru district has dropped to just five pupils, following allegations of prolonged absenteeism by the Acting Principal, Mr. Bothata Ramafikeng, and disputes over the school feeding program.
Two community members, speaking anonymously, said the school has struggled since the Easter holidays due to Mr. Ramafikeng’s absence.
‘’The constant absence of the Acting Principal is part of the reason why the school is in this situation. He was last seen at school during the first week after Easter holidays. This is a pattern, it was not the first time he failed to report on duty for months’’, the source said.
One also pointed to tensions over the feeding scheme, after the tender was awarded to a resident of Ha Mohlachane instead of someone from Ha Ntsane village, where the school is located.
“The Acting Principal’s absence is part of the problem. He last came to school in the first week after Easter. This is not the first time he has disappeared for months,” one source said.
Mr. Ramafikeng is further accused of failing to register Grade 7 pupils with the Examinations Council of Lesotho (ECOL). Instead, he allegedly distributed outdated exam papers from 1996, forcing the pupils to repeat the grade this year.
The school has also been operating without a board for several years, after the previous chairperson was accused of misusing M11,000 meant for sponsorships.
When contacted, Mr. Ramafikeng admitted being away but claimed it was between November last year and January 2025 for traditional healing initiation, not after Easter. He denied responsibility for the declining enrolment, blaming it on the tender dispute instead…MP/BM
