Lesotho–South Africa relations for apartheid South Africa. There is no reason for us to exist any longer as a nation with its own currency and army". Ntate Manyanye, a charity director, cited the AIDS epidemic as a reason why Lesotho could no longer survive as an independent country: "Lesotho is fighting for survival. We have a population of about 1.9 million but there may be as many as 400,000 AIDS orphans among us. Life expectancy has fallen to 34. We are desperate". Lesotho–South Africa relations Lesotho–South Africa relations refers to the current and historical bilateral relations of South Africa and Lesotho. Lesotho, which
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.