Report on Computers for Masitise High School

Lesotho

Masitise High School is one of the largest high schools in the country of Lesotho with an enrollment of over 1,150 students. It is one of many schools associated with the Lesotho Evangelical Church, a partner of Global Ministries. With computer education growing in importance in the educational curriculum in Lesotho, the Lesotho Evangelical Church (LEC) requested help with funds needed to create a larger computer lab with enough computers to serve students. At Masitise High School, computer classes are now compulsory for all the students in the first three years of high school. It is also a subject that is now included in the Junior Certificate Examinations of Lesotho, the standardized tests taken after the third year of high school.

Masitise High School has completed the renovations needed for the expanded computer lab. The project took longer than expected but the results were worth the wait.  Additional wiring was required to support the number of computers being installed. The computers have now arrived and are being installed in the lab. The school purchased 50 computers which will be networked together.  The supplier of the computers has done similar projects at a couple of other schools, including an LEC school in Maseru.  Each computer cost about $300 each, give or take a little depending on what the exchange rate was when the money was converted.  The school already had 50 computers so the school now has about 100 computers total between two labs, minus any of the older computers that were no longer functional.  Over the next several years, the intention is to continue to purchase a few computers each year to continue to build their capabilities for the required exams and other activities, and to continue to replace old computers as they wear out.