Lesotho Water and diamonds are Lesotho's significant natural resources. Water is used through the 21-year, multibillion-dollar Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), under the authority of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority. The project commenced in 1986. The LHWP is designed to capture, store, and transfer water from the Orange River system to South Africa's Free State and greater Johannesburg area, which features a large concentration of South African industry, population, and agriculture. Completion of the first phase of the project has made Lesotho almost completely self-sufficient in the production of electricity and generated approximately US$70 million in 2010 from the sale of
Education in Lesotho Education in Lesotho Education in Lesotho has undergone reforms in recent years, meaning that primary education is now free, universal, and compulsory. Lesotho spends a higher proportion of its GDP (13%) on education than any other country in the world and an average child in Lesotho can expect to spend 10 years of their life in education. Education is compulsory only between the ages of 6 and 13. Secondary school education is non-compulsory, and as of 2005 was attended by 24.0% of 13- to 17-year-olds. There is a gender disparity present in secondary education, with more females attending than males.