Learners from around the country converged at Manthabiseng Convention Centre in Maseru where they were exposed to different career options by various institutions of higher learning on March 14-15, 2019. This was during the sixth annual career guidance event held by the Council of Higher Education (CHE).
Around 13 institutions had stalls where they offered students course counselling and an opportunity to apply at the same time.
The CHE spokesman, Motlalepula Khobotlo said the aim was to give access to learners, particularly those from the rural areas to apply to learning institutions of their choice as they were represented there.
He said despite the low turnout of learners this year, their objective as CHE had been met. “Due to inconvenience of teachers who have been on strike since 18th February this year, the turnout has decreased unlike previous years. Many schools failed to attend this expo however the pivotal improvement since five years ago is that CHE has partnered with Queen Mamohato Memorial hospital to allow students tour the hospital,” said Khobotlo.
Khobotlo said CHE was mandated to promote quality assurance in the higher education institutions, endorse programmes and issue certificates of accreditation, and also monitor and evaluate performance of academic programmes offered in higher institutions in the country.
He therefore emphasised the need for quality assurance in higher education saying this was necessitated by the number of internal and external factors including the shift from universities as institutions of the elite to institutions of mass students, diminishing funding and increasing calls for accountability of those running universities and colleges.
