Lerotholi Polytechnic is a technical and

vocational school A vocational school is a type of educational institution, which, depending on the country, may refer to either secondary or post-secondary education designed to provide vocational education or technical skills required to complete the tasks ...

Maseru Maseru is the capital and largest city of Lesotho. It is also the capital of the Maseru District. Located on the Caledon River, Maseru lies directly on the Lesotho–South Africa border. Maseru had a population of 330,760 in the 2016 census. The ...

Lesotho Lesotho ( ), officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a country landlocked country, landlocked as an Enclave and exclave, enclave in South Africa. It is situated in the Maloti Mountains and contains the Thabana Ntlenyana, highest mountains in Sou ...

History and operations

Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP) is an autonomous public institution established in 1905. It is governed by the Lerotholi Polytechnic Act of 1997 and offers both Crafts and Technician programmes .The institution comprises four schools, namely, the School of Engineering and Technology (SET) and the School of the Built Environment (SOBE) which offer certificates in craft programs and diplomas in engineering. The School of Enterprise and Management (SEM) offers certificates in Textiles and diplomas in commercial programmes. The School of Continuing Education (SOCE) on the other hand focuses on increasing access to education by offering specific need-based programs and courses to industry and the general public while also using available opportunities to generate income for the institution. Chief Lerotholi first conceptualized Lerotholi Polytechnic as a technical and

in 1894, to be the first of its kind in Lesotho. In 1905, the first building was erected and various courses in trades were introduced. New skills and trades were added to the curriculum in 1929. In 1960, the school changed to an artisan-oriented institution. Two new schools were established in the 1970s and 1980s, the Commercial Training Institute and the Technician Training School. In 1991, the three schools were merged. This amalgamation came to be known as Lerotholi Polytechnic (LP). In an effort to respond to the global trends of liberalization, the

government of Lesotho Politics of Lesotho takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic constitutional monarchy, whereby the Prime Minister of Lesotho is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the ...

relinquished its responsibility over the institution and granted it autonomy through the LP Act, No. 20 of 1997 – a move intended to afford the institution the leverage to decide its own strategic direction.

Controversy

Since 2009, Lerotholi Polytechnic has received significant negative attention for the abusive

hazing Hazing (American English), initiation, beasting (British English), bastardisation (Australian English), ragging (South Asian English) or deposition refers to any activity expected of someone in joining or participating in a group that humiliates, ...

rituals allegedly targeted at first year students. The school was forced to cancel its graduation ceremony during the same year after a student was beaten to death by former students. At least six students have reportedly died as a direct result of the school's “initiation” traditions. The saddest thing about this process is now that families will have to bury their children instead of attending their graduation that would open their doors.

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* 20th-century establishments in Lesotho 1905 establishments in Africa Buildings and structures in Maseru Educational institutions established in 1905 Organisations based in Maseru Technical schools Universities and colleges in Lesotho Vocational schools 1905 establishments in the British Empire {{Lesotho-struct-stub

History and operations

Controversy

See also

References

External links