Maseru, May 28 — The Ministry of Education Chief Inspector Central, Dr. Khoarane Khoarane, says Prince Mohato Award Scheme (PMAS), whose patron is His Majesty King Letsie III, is a non-profit organization, working to capacitate and equip Lesotho youth across the country, in their personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community.
Speaking during the teachers’ workshop for high school teachers in the central region, Dr. Khoarane appealed to the teachers to enrol into the scheme and to also encourage learners to take part, saying it is a charitable non-competitive programme of volunteer leisure time activities for young people between the age of 14 and 24, where young people design their own programme activities, set their own goals and record their own progress.
He said this scheme is a personal challenge aimed at personal development and acquisition of leadership skills and social responsibility, that is run through organisation and institutions such school, colleges, youth clubs, voluntary organisations and local groups.
He added it helps in the discipline of individuals to be resilient against life’s challenges, such as drugs. He said it also equips learners with skills at their different levels of studying.
Dr. khoarane said PMAS has three levels of awards and each level is made up of four sections of service, skills, physical recreation and adventurous journeys, that challenge participants in their own beliefs about what they can achieve. He added that it is open to all regardless of gender, culture, religious, political affiliation, mental or physical ability.
This scheme was founded by the Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, and it operates in over 40 countries. It was introduced in Lesotho in 1970 and was named Prince Mohato award scheme, when he was still a Prince, by the late Queen ‘Mamohato Bereng Seeiso.
The awards are also presented by his Majesty, and this gives young people an opportunity to be in his presence.
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