Ithabeleng Qhasho
THE Council on Higher Education (CHE) has intensified calls for the transformation of Lesotho’s higher education system, with stakeholders urging bold reforms to align academic programmes with labour market demands.
Addressing a workshop convened by CHE in Maseru on Thursday, its Chief Executive, Dr Moeketsi Letele, said Lesotho stands at a defining moment, where higher education must evolve to keep pace with a rapidly changing economy.
The stakeholders sought to develop practical guidelines to phase out outdated academic programmes and introduce future-ready qualifications that respond directly to national development needs.
“The transformation of higher education is no longer optional,” Dr Letele said, citing the CHE Strategic Plan 2025–2030 and ongoing reforms to the Lesotho Qualifications Framework as key drivers towards improved quality, relevance and global competitiveness.
Skills mismatch
Director of National Employment Services, Maqenehelo Mahlo, presented findings from the 2024 Labour Force Survey, highlighting deep structural imbalances in the labour market.
“Managerial positions account for just 2.3 percent of employment, while domestic work dominates at 42.4 percent, reflecting a concentration in low-skilled occupations. At the same time, industries are increasingly saturated, limiting opportunities for new entrants.
“Despite many Basotho attaining lower and upper secondary education, few possess the specialised or technical skills required by employers. Not education, but skills, is the problem,” Dr Mahlo said.
Youth left behind
She said the mismatch was most evident among young people, many of whom were employed in the informal sector in unstable and low-paying jobs. Alarmingly, 49.8 percent of youth were not in education, employment or training.
Employment services data further illustrates the gap: of 3,211 registered job seekers in 2025/2026, only 565 vacancies were declared, with just 185 individuals successfully placed.
Dependence on foreign expertise
Dr Mahlo also highlighted Lesotho’s growing reliance on foreign skills. She said total of 2257 work permits were issued, of which 1584 were approved—an indication that local systems are not producing the expertise required by industry.
“Lesotho risks becoming a market for foreign professionals because we are not producing for our own economy,” Dr Mahlo warned.
Breaking institutional silos
Dr Mahlo criticised the tendency to implement projects in isolation, describing it as “working in silos”, where initiatives lack collaboration and long-term planning.
She called for inclusive project design involving all stakeholders, integrating in-house training opportunities to build local capacity.
“Why rely on consultancies and expatriates when we can develop our own people?” she asked.
Priority areas for reform
Dr Mahlo identified critical gaps in technical and vocational skills, particularly in artisan trades, occupational hygiene and radiography. Stakeholders agreed that expanding Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) programmes will be key to addressing these shortages.
Participants also stressed the importance of embedding 21st-century skills—such as critical thinking, creativity and digital literacy—into academic curricula, while strengthening industry partnerships through internships, apprenticeships and mentorship programmes.
Looking ahead
There were also calls to leverage the Basotho diaspora, whose expertise could play a vital role in advancing sectors such as healthcare and innovation.
Speaking at the same workshop, National University of Lesotho (NUL) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Olusola Isaac Fajana, described the discussions as eye-opening, noting that bringing together diverse stakeholders was critical to identifying skills gaps contributing to high youth unemployment.
He said transforming higher education was essential to equip young people with future-ready skills, underscoring a shared commitment among institutions to build a more responsive and forward-looking education system for Lesotho.