Lesotho’s Minister of Education and Training, Prof. Ntoi Rapapa, met with representatives from Oxfam Denmark on February 16, 2026, to discuss the implementation of the Education Out Loud project, a key initiative funded by the Global Partnership for Education (GPE).
The meeting, attended by senior officials from Lesotho’s Ministry of Education, centered on strengthening the role of civil society in improving the quality of education within the country. Minister Rapapa and his team engaged with Oxfam Denmark’s Lars Udsholt and Richard Olong to review the project’s objectives and anticipated impact on Lesotho’s education sector, according to a statement released by Lesotho’s government.
Education Out Loud is designed to increase accountability and transparency in education, ensuring the inclusion of parents, learners and teachers in decision-making processes. The initiative provides both financial resources and technical support to local organizations, enabling them to monitor education policies and advocate for improvements, particularly for marginalized groups.
The GPE has been a partner in Lesotho’s education development since 2005, providing a total of US$57,485,651 in grant support. Currently, the GPE is supporting the Lesotho Council of Non-Governmental Organizations (LCN) through the Education Out Loud fund for the period 2024-2026. The current GPE grant eligibility for Lesotho is based on the Multiplier System, which assesses a country’s capacity and commitment to system transformation.
During the February 16th meeting, the Ministry of Education shared its priorities for improving learning outcomes, reducing disparities, and strengthening school management. Discussions focused on aligning national education strategies with the objectives of the Education Out Loud project. Minister Rapapa emphasized the importance of partnerships with international organizations like Oxfam Denmark in advancing Lesotho’s education agenda.
The GPE’s 2025 grant priority for Lesotho is to enhance the quality of teaching and learning, with a specific focus on improving learning attainment in basic education for the most marginalized learners. The coordinating agencies for GPE support in Lesotho are the Lesotho Council of NGOs and UNICEF.
According to Education Out Loud’s website, the fund supports civil society organizations to become active and influential in shaping education policy to better meet the needs of communities. The fund’s support helps countries maximize the impact of their limited education funding, as civil society organizations coordinate technical policy discussions and mobilize funds at the country level.
