As part of its corporate social responsibility initiatives, Standard Lesotho Bank has formally launched the Standard Lesotho Bank Bursary Fund that is intended to support fifty (50) academically gifted students from less privileged families to help them acquire high school education. This fund is also intended to promote academic excellence and shape the next generation of Basotho’s talent in order to build national capacity and local human capital to make a meaningful contribution to the country in line with national priorities as set out in the National Strategic Development Plan II of the Government of Lesotho and the Sustainable Development Goal 4 of the United Nations; towards “Ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.” (SDG Goal 4).
The Standard Lesotho Bank Bursary Fund will commence in 2022 with the initial capital injection of M650,000 to cover all tuition fees and living expenses of qualifying students. The Bursary is intended for academically gifted students from families with a combined monthly income of less than M3,000 per month, at any high school class until they finish their LGSCE examinations. The bursary also incorporates career guidance, mentorship and psycho-social support to recipients during the tenure of their sponsorship. The Bursary is free and open to qualifying Basotho nationals in all the districts of Lesotho who meet entry requirements. It is open for both boy and girl children. View the criteria here.
The Standard Lesotho Bank Bursary Fund is intended to decrease the numbers of pupils who drop out of school, especially at high school level due to financial constraints. The fund has been recognized by the Bank as an initiative that has potential to address the plight of gifted but economically challenged Basotho children, who lose out on the potential to be future leaders of the country. It also responds to a gap in universal access to education, where the government currently provides free primary education and scholarships for tertiary education.
At the occasion to launch the Bursary Fund, the Acting Head of Brand and Marketing of Standard Lesotho Bank, Mr. Manyathela Kheleli mentioned that one of the important pillars of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility projects is Education. “Education is the foundation of life and indeed our economy, so we are pleased that we are launching this Bursary Fund that is intended to nurture future leaders early in their formative years; because a good tomorrow starts today. Students whose lives will be touched by this initiative are also destined to be our customers in the future, so for us it goes beyond being a good corporate citizen, but also planting the seed that will grow our future customer base.”
The fund is a pilot project for a period of three years, and it will start with the first cohort of 50 students for 2022 with a sponsorship value of M650,000. The Bank has opened applications until 14th January,2022. Applications can be delivered at any Standard Lesotho Bank Branch throughout the country or emailed to [email protected].
Meanwhile, Standard Lesotho Bank has also introduced a new and convenient school fees payment solution called BluePay. This is a payments and collections reconciliation platform that the Bank is giving access to customers with reconciliation needs, mainly educational institutions. When all the integrations have been completed, the schools and other entities enrolled onto the solution will be able to have a real time view of the payments that are through their accounts; thereby minimizing revenue leakage and offering convenience to both school and parents
