Theko Tlebere
Honourable Minister,
I write to you in response to a heartfelt plea from a reader of my weekly column in Newsday newspaper. This reader, like many Basotho, hopes that their voices and aspirations resonate with those in authority. They share my belief that, under your capable leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations can take decisive action to create opportunities that will transform the lives of countless Basotho, enabling them to pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to our society. It is this faith in leadership and hope for a brighter tomorrow that compels me to bring this matter to your attention.
The issue at hand is both urgent and compelling; Lesotho has yet to sign formal agreements that would allow its citizens to work abroad as English language teachers. To be frank, Lesotho has a stronger claim than South Africa to be recognised as an English native-speaking country. Our colonial history with Britain has embedded English into the very fabric of our nation, our education system, legal framework, and public administration. For generations, English has served not only as the language of instruction in schools but also as the medium of governance and business. It is therefore unjustifiable that Basotho who grow up (being beaten for appearing on a Sesotho speakers list), study, and work using English as their primary language are excluded from opportunities readily available to South Africans and Batswana. This exclusion unfairly disadvantages our people, limiting their potential and stifling the overall progress of our nation.
Honourable Minister, countries like China and Japan are among the world’s most prominent economic hot-spots for English teaching. Their societies are experiencing a high demand for English teachers, and their programs have absorbed thousands of young people from across Africa, particularly from South Africa and Botswana. These opportunities have proven to be life-changing, allowing individuals to secure stable livelihoods and send remittances home. For many families, these remittances are not just helpful; they are the difference between poverty and dignity, between despair and opportunity. They also significantly contribute to the economies of those countries whose citizens have access to these programs. Yet Lesotho has not tapped into these promising avenues, leaving Basotho locked out of a market where they are qualified and capable.
Beyond China and Japan, numerous other countries are also open to English teachers. Thailand, South Korea, Vietnam, and even Middle Eastern nations have expanded opportunities for qualified foreign English teachers in recent years. Your Ministry must adopt a proactive approach to explore these agreements more broadly. By doing so, Lesotho can secure pathways for its people to enter these international job markets, ensuring that Basotho are not left behind in a competitive global economy. Such foresight would not only open new doors for employment but also enhance our citizens’ skills, exposure to global standards, and long-term competitiveness.
The potential impact of accessing foreign teaching jobs is immense. At home, unemployment remains one of our greatest national challenges, evidenced by the Prime Minister’s declaration of unemployment as a National crisis. By enabling Basotho to teach abroad, we would directly address this crisis. Every Mosotho who finds meaningful employment abroad becomes a source of strength for their family, a contributor to our economy through remittances, and an ambassador of Lesotho’s culture and values to the world.
Furthermore, foreign teaching experiences often enrich individuals with new skills, perspectives, and connections that they bring back home. This not only benefits their personal growth but also contributes to Lesotho’s development when these skills are reinvested into our institutions and communities.
Encouraging Basotho to participate in international teaching programs would strengthen people-to-people exchanges, fostering goodwill and understanding between Lesotho and its partners. It would project Lesotho as a nation that values education and shares its human capital with the world. Such engagement elevates our international profile and deepens diplomatic ties with countries that play a crucial role in our development flight.
Honourable Minister, it is in this spirit that I respectfully appeal to your office to act with urgency. I humbly ask that you prioritize bilateral negotiations with China and Japan, given their prominence as destinations for English teaching. These two countries represent immediate and high-demand markets, and their acceptance of Basotho would mark a transformative shift for our youth. At the same time, I implore you to expand these efforts to include other countries where similar opportunities exist, ensuring that Basotho have multiple pathways to pursue.
Above all, I request that you provide clear timelines or at the very least, make a public pledge on when the memorandum of understanding with China and Japan can be expected to be signed and ratified. Such a commitment would serve as a beacon of hope to thousands of Basotho, assuring them that their government is actively and visibly working to secure opportunities for them.
Honourable Minister, our youth and families are waiting with hope for a brighter future. They long for action that demonstrates their government hears them, values them, and is ready to help them thrive in a world full of possibilities. By taking decisive steps on this issue and making a public pledge, you would restore confidence and inspire belief that change is not only possible but imminent and that Lesotho shall never be the same.
Let us not delay in seizing opportunities that can lift our people out of poverty, reduce unemployment, and strengthen our nation’s place in the global community. Your decisive action today will be remembered as a turning point in Lesotho’s pursuit of opportunity, dignity, and prosperity. The future is NOW.
Summary
- They share my belief that, under your capable leadership, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Relations can take decisive action to create opportunities that will transform the lives of countless Basotho, enabling them to pursue their dreams and contribute meaningfully to our society.
- It is therefore unjustifiable that Basotho who grow up (being beaten for appearing on a Sesotho speakers list), study, and work using English as their primary language are excluded from opportunities readily available to South Africans and Batswana.
- Every Mosotho who finds meaningful employment abroad becomes a source of strength for their family, a contributor to our economy through remittances, and an ambassador of Lesotho’s culture and values to the world.
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