Addis Ababa, Aug.01—Lesotho has secured a significant leadership role in Africa’s higher education sector following the election of Dr. Moeketsi Letele as President of the African Network for Quality Assurance (AfriQAN), alongside his appointment to a key African Union (AU) body steering reforms in quality assurance across the continent.
Dr. Letele, the Chief Executive Officer of Lesotho’s Council on Higher Education (CHE), has also been nominated to serve on the Troika of the Interim Council of the Pan-African Quality Assurance Alliance (PAQAA), where he will coordinate and represent Anglophone African countries.
The appointment places Lesotho at the centre of efforts to establish a continent-wide quality assurance system aimed at harmonising higher education standards, strengthening the recognition of academic qualifications and promoting student and academic mobility across Africa.
The PAQAA Interim Council, established under the auspices of the African Union Commission with support from the HAQAA3 Initiative, has been tasked with developing the statutes that will formally establish PAQAA as the African Union’s continental quality assurance body.
The initiative is a key component of the Pan-African Quality Assurance and Accreditation Framework (PAQAF), one of the African Union’s flagship higher education programmes under Agenda 2063 and the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA).
It is expected to strengthen collaboration among African universities while ensuring institutions meet internationally recognised quality standards.Dr. Letele’s election comes at a pivotal time as African countries accelerate efforts to create a more integrated and globally competitive higher education system through common quality assurance standards and greater mutual recognition of qualifications.
His election is also seen as recognition of Lesotho’s growing contribution to higher education governance and quality assurance on the continent, further raising the country’s profile within African education institutions.
Speaking after his election, Dr. Letele described the appointment as both an honour and a responsibility.”I am deeply honoured by the confidence placed in me by colleagues across the continent.
This responsibility is bigger than any individual.
It is about building a credible, trusted and harmonised African quality assurance system that serves our students, universities and societies,” he said.
He added that he looked forward to working with African Union member states and development partners to establish PAQAA as a strong continental institution while ensuring Africa’s higher education systems meet globally recognised standards.
Congratulating Dr. Letele, Lesotho’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, Nts’iuoa Sekete, said the election reflected the confidence African countries have in Lesotho’s expertise and leadership.
“Dr. Letele’s election is a proud moment for the Kingdom of Lesotho and a testament to the confidence that Africa has placed in our expertise and leadership. His appointment demonstrates that Lesotho is not only participating in shaping Africa’s higher education agenda, but is helping to lead it,” Ambassador Sekete said.
She added that the Embassy remained committed to supporting Basotho professionals serving in continental institutions and contributing to the implementation of the African Union’s Agenda 2063.
Dr. Letele’s dual appointments are expected to strengthen Lesotho’s voice in continental education policy while positioning the country to play a more influential role in shaping the future of higher education quality assurance across Africa.
Ends/MAPM
