Computers for Masitise High School Update

Computers for Masitise High School Update

Having received contributions for computer upgrades through special gifts given to Global Ministries, the school is moving forward with the creation of a larger computer lab. Construction is currently underway for a new, two-room classroom block that will allow two other classrooms to be combined into one room large enough for a new Computer Lab.

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 located in Quthing District in the southwest corner of the country. As nearly half of the students board at the school, it not only serves the surrounding community but also attracts students from other parts of Lesotho. It is one of many schools associated with the Lesotho Evangelical Church, a long-standing partner of Global Ministries.

Computer education is of growing importance in the educational curriculum in Lesotho. At Masitise High School, computer classes are now compulsory for all the students in the first three years of high school. It is a subject that is now included in the Junior Certificate Examinations of Lesotho – these standardized tests are taken after the third year of high school. In recent years, Global Ministries missionary Mark Behle was in charge of the Junior Certificate Examinations and reports that during the crucial computer exams there were frequent computer malfunctions.

Having received contributions for computer upgrades through special gifts given to Global Ministries, the school is moving forward with the creation of a larger computer lab. Construction is currently underway for a new, two-room classroom block that will allow two other classrooms to be combined into one room large enough for a new Computer Lab. The modifications needed to create the computer lab will begin once the new classroom block is completed. The lab will be a secure location, given the computers that will be situated there. The new classroom project will probably be complete by about Easter 2011, which will free up the former space for the creation of the new lab after that.

Computers will be purchased once the computer lab is set up. Several companies are quite eager to sell the school new computers and funds received thus far can cover the purchase of about 20 new computers. The school is still investigating the purchase of used computers which should help them reach the goal of 50 computers total. The repair and upgrade of existing computers is also contemplated in reaching the goal of 50 computers for the Computer Lab.

For more information or to support the project, click here: http://globalministries.org/africa/projects/computers-for-masitise.html