INSTITUTE OF EXTRA MURAL STUDIES, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO

Evaluation covers the period 4/78-5/80 and is based on interviews with project staff and a review of project files. Despite start-up delays, IEMS has succeeded in developing grass roots, non-degree education activities. IEMS has also initiated a part-time degree program which has accomodated an overflow of students caused by Southern African refugees admitted to NUL. The Ministry of Rural Development and NUL, however, fear this degree program will detract from the non-degree program. A site was selected for a campus in Maseru, and an Institute of Labor Studies was constructed on this campus as a component unit of IEMS and is operating. Two of four projected Basotho will return in 8/80 from the United States with M.S. degrees to fill key positions in IEMS. A long-range institutional development plan was developed and is contained in the "Education Specifications for IEMS", along with architectural specifications for the Maseru campus. Efforts must be made, however, to secure donor assistance necessary to implement this long-range planning. A key problem has been underbudgeting of the project, combined with Lesotho"s 18% annual inflation rate. This necessitated reducing the number of planned trainees and the scope of campus designs. It is recommended that various budget lines be tapped to provide sufficient funds for the architectural/engineering design; a local firm be used to provide a schematic design for the Maseru campus and a final design for one building within the limited budget; and IEMS provide development education services to Southern Africa. IEMS should also address the following issues: how its organizational structure can be more flexible, yet more efficiently managed; how the part-time degree program can be continued without detracting from the grass roots non-degree activities; how coordination with other nonformal education agencies in Lesotho can be improved; and how educational methods can be upgraded, especially in math and science.