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Seliba Sa Boithuto

Postal Address:

P.O.Box 288

Maseru 100

LESOTHO

Email Address:

mathot@lesoff.co.za

Physical Address:

Ha Tsautse

Main South Road

Maseru

LESOTHO

Banks:

NedBank (Lesotho)

SSB

#:027/06/3925/11

Postbank

Amsterdam

Seliba Sa Boithuto Bouwfonds

  # 684 99 27

Standard Bank (Lesotho)

SSB Trust

# 0140097462501

How SSB grew (the History of SSB): 

Content

1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances -  7.Conclusion.

1.    Preparation

The idea of supporting people, who study on their own, was first put in February 1991 in a questionnaire to people using the libraries in Maseru for private studies. The respondents were then invited to a consultative meeting on 16 July 1991. This feasibility study showed an interest in the offered support and willingness to pay for those services.

The Initial Steering Committee then developed a constitution and registered the Society Seliba Sa Boithuto on 24th October 1991 (Registration Number 91/73) with the Societies Register, Maseru, Lesotho.

The users of the Centre should provide the funds for the running costs, but for capital costs the Steering Committee approached donors. In 1992 and 1994 SSB received grants from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Germans Adult Education Foundation, The Irish Consulate and the Genesis Foundation (USA). These grants were used to buy furniture, equipment, books and computers with printers.

The Sisters of Good Shepherd, who run a hostel for working women, graciously made available, at nominal rent (including electricity), a room at Emmanuel Hostel, measuring 8 metres by 6 metres, with adjoining toilet facilities. It has been the home of SSB till now and provides space for about 30 learners, as well as tutors and the organiser. The Steering Committee has been enriched with a representative of the Sisters of Good Shepherd, who have been supportive to SSB all through the years.

 Go to Top - 1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances -  7.Conclusion.

2.    What does the present Centre offer?

SSB wants to be in the position to support the learning of

any person on any subject, topic or issue.

At present SSB mainly supports the study of Secondary and High School subjects and Basic Computer Skills.

When funds and facilities will be available, SSB aims to assist also those who study basic literacy and numeracy, Primary School subjects, tertiary correspondence courses, artisans’ peer support groups, special interest peer learning groups, such as music or current affairs, and so on.

 Go to Top - 1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances -  7.Conclusion.

3.         The Start

On 3 February 1992 Seliba Sa Boithuto opened its doors.

Initially the opening times were from 5pm to 8pm on weekdays, aiming for employed people, who wished to study on their own. But soon it was found that many partially employed and unemployed people also wished to make use of SSB. The opening times were extended as from 3pm, but shortened to 7pm, because it is difficult to find taxi’s home after 7pm. This was also advantageous for pupils, who studied at SSB after school.

But it became clear that many people had time during the day, especially those who did not have the money to pay for school fees or for books. The time that SSB was available to the learners grew longer and at present it is from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm: not many learners stay after six o’clock, and it is already a long day for the Organiser.

As from 1995 SSB is also open on weekends, (Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm) for those who work during the week. The Deputy Organiser is present during the weekends.

The organisers and deputy organisers are important for the daytoday running of Seliba Sa Boithuto.

They have to have a good understanding of the philosophy of SSB and know the materials available. They account for the fees received, support the learners and tutors, liaise with the learners’ representatives and receive visitors. They report to the Steering Committee and recommend ordering of books and other materials.

SSB must be very grateful for their services and most of those who have left us have done very well in their new professional life.

 Go to Top - 1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances -  7.Conclusion.

4.         Development of members and attendance

The growth of Seliba Sa Boithuto can be measured by the number of members each year and by the number of times people have attended. This is shown in the graph below. The membership rose to over 400 in 1994 and 1995, but dropped in the following years, and is now around 150 per year. The yearly attendance rose in jumps and fits from 1500 in 1992 to around 7000 at present.

The year 1999 was a bad year, because of a breakdown in daytoday organisation, which was identified and corrected.

In 1996 it was recognised that many members only attended SSB a few times, on average 14 times per year. It seemed that many learners left, because they did not understand the principles on which SSB is based, and they expected to be guided like in schools.

Therefore, in 1996 an introductory workshop was introduced for all members, so that the learners knew what type of organisation they had joined. During that workshop also guidance was given on how to study on your own.

This improved the situation and the average number of attendance per member increased to the present 50, in spite of the fact that the number if members dropped. SSB is now used as it was meant.

There is also an interesting attendance pattern during the year. There are two waves. There is a dip in winter (July) when it is cold and a second one during the festive season. The first wave us higher, because many learners use SSB to resit their examination in June, while those who study the whole year for the November examinations are mainly found in the second wave.

 In spite of the fact that the present facilities only seat 30 learners comfortably, there have been days that more than 90 learners attended. The resultant overcrowding may also have pushed some people away in the second half of the year. During those periods, casual learners, who are not (yet) members and pay a higher users’ fee, were not allowed to use SSB.

It is clear that the centre is now at its full capacity and has stopped SSB to grow further. Therefore, it was decided to find out own land and build larger facilities.

 Go to Top - 1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances -  7.Conclusion.

5.         Development of activities

Each first Saturday of the month SSB runs an Introductory Workshop, as explained above, when there are new learners, who wish to become members. If there are no new members, than a session is organised to reflect on the learners’ experiences of studying on their own. Reflection on one’s own work as well as revision of what one has learned is an important part of being responsible for one’s own growth.

Tutors are also prepared for their new role. Many have been teachers and find it difficult to take the role of a counsellor instead of just answering learners’ questions.

the SSB Choir performing during the Annual General Meeting.

When people are given responsibility they often show unexpected initiatives. On their own the learners have organised clubs for various activities: choral singing, debating, poetry, drama and dance. They have participated in concerts and shows and performed during the Annual General Meetings. They have also organised excursions, for example to the Muela Dam Site of the Highland Water Project.

 Go to Top - 1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances -  7.Conclusion.

6.                     Development of finances

The finances show interesting patterns.

The grants have been used to pay for the fixed assets, such as furniture and learning materials.From the graph below it can be seen that the grants were mainly needed during the first three years.The donations have been used to offset the lack of money generated from the learners during the first years.

The grant from USAID in 2001 was used to set up an HIV/AIDS information corner, which the learners can study and discuss in groups.

The aim that the running cost would be covered by the income from the learners (at present an Annual Subscription of M30 and Users’ fees of M2 per day) was first reached in 1995, but from2000 the running costs were covered by the income from the learners.. The surplus generated is used to by more learning materials, which need to be renewed regularly, due to wear and tear, or because new textbooks come on the market.

  G to Top - 1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances -  7.Conclusion.

7.         Conclusion

Seliba Sa Boithuto has grown in bounds and leaps over the last ten year. It took some time for learners to understand that it was not a school. Only when they saw that some people succeeded studying on their own, many learners applied and started to use the centre fruitfully. The new facilities, opened by the Minister for Education and Training on 28th January 2005, are proving effective in encouraging the learners to work well.

Apart from the donations, which the SSB Trust has received for building our own facilities, SSB has received the following support:

With gratitude we record the following Grants

1991   The Netherlands Embassy                           M20,000.00
1991   The German Adult Education Association      M17,695.18
1992   The Irish Consulate                                      M14,700.00
1992   The Genesis Foundation (USA)                     M  9,000.00
1994   The Irish Consulate                                      M28,000.00
1994   The German Adult Education Association      M  6,894.00
2001   USAID                                                        M28,877.48

We also thank the following Donors for their support over the years:

GB Mathot, T Mosoeu, LANFE, L Lechesa, K Abubakar,M Letšeka, J. Zuidberg, T van Mastrigt, C van Haasteren,V Dlamini, N Mopeli, Moiketsi, M Makhetha, C Oberman, GTZ, Mr & Mrs Poland, M Meertens, Ned Bank, and Progress PLC.

 Go to Top - 1.Preparation -  2. What does the Centre Offer -  3. The Start -  4. Development of Members and Attendance - 5. Development of Activities -  6. Development of Finances