…as parly committees urge NMDS to review termination decision
Moroke Sekoboto
THE Economic and Development Cluster and the Social Cluster parliamentary Committees have offered temporary relief to postgraduate students at the National University of Lesotho (NUL) following a dispute over sponsorships with the National Manpower Development Secretariat (NMDS).
The Committees yesterday instructed NMDS to return next week with a detailed report explaining the irregularities that led to delays in the awarding of sponsorships.
The intervention follows a petition by NUL postgraduate students, who raised concerns over delays in contract signings. Some students who had already received funds were later instructed by NMDS to repay the money.
Both NMDS and the aggrieved students representatives appeared before the joint Committees sitting yesterday in Parliament.
Economic and Development Cluster chairperson, Sello Hakane, said the situation was concerning, particularly as students who had been sponsored for the first semester were now facing uncertainty in the second semester.
“We are dealing with public funds here, so it must be clear where procedures were not followed. There appears to be a lack of coordination within NMDS,” Mr Hakane said.
Presenting the petition, student representative, Tšitso Khereng, said the group sought the cluster’s intervention to safeguard their right to education.
He explained that for the 2025/2026 academic year, NMDS delayed awarding sponsorships. Students were later required to complete contractual processes and pay certain amounts before receiving their funds.
“After receiving the funds on 27 February 2026, NMDS published our names on its Facebook page on 2 March 2026, instructing us to report to the Loan Bursary Administrator,” said Mr Khereng.
He added that upon reporting, students were told to repay previous loan bursaries from their former institutions or risk immediate termination of their contracts.
“In the event of termination, we were also required to return the lump sum already received, yet some of the money had already been paid to financial institutions,” he said.
Mr Khereng said students had not been clearly informed that loan repayments would begin while they were still studying.
“It was previously understood that repayment would start after securing employment. This sudden decision has caused financial hardship and confusion, especially as the first semester has already been completed and examinations written.”
He urged the Committees to urgently intervene, warning that the situation was negatively affecting students’ academic progress.
The affected students are enrolled in programmes including MSc in Range Resources and Fodder Production, Animal Production, Crop Science, Agricultural Extension, Animal Nutrition and African History.
Loan Bursary Fund legal officer, Sentle Rathebe, told the Committees that the current legal framework, including the National Manpower Development Council Act and Loan Bursary Fund regulations dating back to 1978, were outdated.
She said the regulations no longer reflected current economic realities, noting that graduates previously had better prospects of repaying loans.
Ms Rathebe outlined repayment criteria based on household income, including a 50 percent repayment requirement for those deemed financially able and seeking further sponsorship. Other categories range from 30 percent for households earning between M13 000 and M15 999, to 10 percent for those earning between M2000 and M3999. Households earning below M2000 are required to make instalment payments over an agreed period.
Ministry of Finance and Development Planning Deputy Principal Secretary, Mahlape Ramoseme, acknowledged that the laws were outdated but said reforms had been underway since 2023.
“When these laws were enacted, it was assumed that graduates would easily find employment, which is no longer the case given the high number of graduates and postgraduates,” Ms Ramoseme said.
Chair of Chairs, Mokhothu Makhalanyane, said the matter required careful handling, urging NMDS to account for the use of public funds while also considering the impact on students’ futures.
He said the Committees expected a full explanation from NMDS when it returns next week.
