By Seleoe Nonyane
The National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS) will increase book allowances for the National University of Lesotho (NUL) and Institute for Extra Moral Studies (IEMS) students at the beginning of the new academic year that starts in August 2022.
The book allowance is now called computer allowance and it will increase from M4 000 to M4 500 for NUL students while it will increase from M2 500 to M4 500 for IEMS students.
This was confirmed by the NUL student representative council president, Tumo Tsanyane this week.
“The book allowance name has changed to computer allowance for both IEMS and NUL students. Therefore, the allowance will increase to M4 500”
“Food allowance for NUL students has seen an increase of M100 which now makes it M1200 monthly from M1100. We also asked for M100 data allowance. However, we were only offered M50,” he said.
He remembered that on February 23 2022 the students’ body lodged a complaint to NMDS about the concerning book allowance which they argued was not sufficient to cover for text books and stationery.
“Another reason for lodging a complaint was because of the inflation we are experiencing as the world at large. Everything is going up in prices and therefore we thought it would only be fair for the allowance to be increased,” he explained.
Tsanyane added that they had not seen an increase in the book allowance for a very long time and that the increment was still bound to happen.
A mass communication student who asked to remain anonymous raised his concerns on the M4500 adjustment. He told theReporter that mass communication needs practical tools such as cameras which are quite expensive.
“We use laptops to do our assignments so getting a M4 500 book allowance is still meaningless. How can I be armed enough to perform well in our studies when there are no cameras?
“Therefore as mass communications students we need to have tools that will help us learn effectively as the course entails modules such as photo journalism, audio and video production.
“So, M4500 is too little as it only affords to cover a laptop. What about data and rent? Rent is also a major problem as the economy is creeping due to Covid-19 and students are suffering so much,” he emphasized.
He urged that the stipend should at least be adjusted to M8 000 suggesting that mass communication is good course and can also bring change in the country.
He mentioned that a mass communications student can start his or her own business such as in practising photography.
He noted: “A mass communication student can start his or her own photography company without having to be employed”.
Also, a mass communication third year student at IEMS Nthabeleng Tšosane noted that she is not satisfied with the increment. She said her reason is that the allowance is still not enough.
Tšosane said that she would have at least expected that the allowance should be the same as of other tertiary institutions in the country. This, according to her would be much better.
The NMDS director Florina Rakeketsi, admitted to have had such a meeting while confirming that indeed stipends will increase for the coming academic year.
However, the book allowance which has changed names to computer allowance will only be eligible to first year students as per their agreement.
This because, senior students already have laptops in their possession.
“The computer allowance will now be M4 500. The students had initially asked for M300 food allowance. However, it was only increased by M100 and data allowance will be M50 although they had asked for M100”, she said.
Moreover, she indicated that there will be no adjustment for rent, adding that these adjustments are not only applicable for NUL and IEMS first year students but all institutions that acquire allowance from NMDS.
