I also looked at the root cause of these huge debts and realised that the failure to adhere to the approved budget, ministerial policies and legislation landed us in this mess. In November 2017 alone, we paid out M16 million and we will continue paying this financial year so that we clear this debt and start on a clean slate. And it is already evident as this is not sitting well with some of the people within the ministry which is why we have so many issues that we are working hard to root out.Д¬urrently the ministry owes teachers huge amounts of money and we are working hard to pay the debts. It is important for people to note that changing peopleвЂ™s mindset to comply with good corporate governance, legislation and policies is not going to be easy. Adhering to these three pillars would significantly address and mitigate the challenges. I have emphasised to the ministryвЂ™s staff that we can only clean up by adhering to good corporate governance, the legislation and policies of the ministry as well as sticking to an approved budget by the parliament. There are major things that we must do to ensure that this ministry cleans up and live up to its primary mandate. We are working very hard to shake and clean up our administration. For the first time since the 2017/18 financial year, I strongly believe that the challenges in the ministry are being addressed coherently. The ministry of education and training has many serious challenges and we are on peopleвЂ™s lips for all the wrong reasons. Prof Rapapa: This is a very important point. What are you going to do to ensure that your ministry cleans up and implements its mandate as expected? LT: Your ministry has been in the news for some time now for all the wrong reasons. Proper library and Wi-Fi facilities should be available at the tertiary level so that people can easily identify with the institution and be happy to be there. All our schools should meet certain minimum standards of operation. Issues of infrastructure such as classrooms, offices, kitchens should have improved to the required level. Prof Rapapa: It is my vision that within five years the issue of teachersвЂ™ welfare should be on a level that is commensurate with what they are doing. LT: What is your vision with the Education ministry and is there any time frame that you have set to achieve your objectives? In this wide-ranging interview, Professor Rapapa shares his vision with Lesotho Times Reporter Pascalinah Kabi. In February 2018, Prime Minister Thomas Thabane reshuffled his cabinet and appointed Alliance of Democrats deputy leader, Ntoi Rapapa, as Education and Training minister.

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