Vodacom Lesotho builds on Schools Connectivity Programme with "Pay School Fees with M-Pesa Campaign"

Vodacom Lesotho is building on its established history of supporting education through the School Connectivity Progamme with the “Pay School Fees with M-Pesa Campaign”. In a handover ceremony in Maseru yesterday, the Honourable Minister of Education Dr Ntoi Rapapa, Vodacom Lesotho Managing Director, Rishaad Tayob and Executive Head of M-Pesa, Palesa Mphunyetsane, presented Lesotho High School with a fully equipped computer lab.

To date Vodacom has provided free internet connectivity to 90 schools as part of its Schools Connectivity Programme with a commitment to connect 200 schools by the end of this financial year – enabling more digital learning and access to content for learners.

Lesotho High School, which collected the highest proportion of fees through M-Pesa, received a Vodacom branded container (8mx3m), 12 computers with software (windows and office), desks and chairs as well as wimax internet for 6 Months.

Executive Head on M-Pesa, Ms Palesa Mphunyetsane said “We believe Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) are key in transforming the way children learn and interact with educational material, preparing learners for a technology led global economy and marketplace”.

Vodacom kicked off this exciting campaign in 2016. Over and above delivering computers to schools, the initiative places an emphasis on the convenience of the M-Pesa platform in paying schools fees, particularly for the busy parents. The platform simultaneously helps schools collect and manage school fee payments with a lot more ease and security. The integration of M-Pesa in school fee payments reflects our vision of being a leading digital company that empowers a connected society.

In 2017 St. Barnabas became the first school to scoop first prize of the competition to have the highest proportion of fees through M-Pesa, winning a fully equipped state of the art computer lab. Over 95 schools have been registered to receive their school fee payments through M-Pesa.

“The campaign has provided ease and convenience to the parents. Gone are the days when parents would need make payments at financial institutions and thereafter provide proof of payment. M-Pesa is not just a technological innovation enabling person to person and person to institution payments, today is a tool for social inclusion, enabling fees payment and keeping learner in school”, added Palesa.