Ntoi Rapapa (born 28 February 1968) is a Lesotho politician, former physics professor and former CEO of LEWA. He is the current Minister of Education and Training due to October 2022.

Ntoi Rapapa
Minister of Education and Training
Assumed office
28 October 2022
Prime MinisterSam Matekane
Member of the National Assembly
for Mosalemane
Assumed office
25 October 2022
Personal details
Born (1968-02-28) 28 February 1968 (age 56)
Mapoteng, Berea District, Lesotho
Political partyAlliance of Democrats
Alma materNational University of Lesotho
University of Manchester

Education and early career edit

Rapapa was born on 28 February 1968 and was raised in Maphatšoaneng, Mapoteng in Berea District. His father died when he was 5 years old, and he was raised by his mother, who was a trader selling clothing, beer and produce. He attended Dahon High School.[1]

His BSc in physics and mathematics is from the National University of Lesotho (1993). He then gained an Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in physics from Italy's International Centre of Theoretical Physics (1995). He was an assistant lecturer at the National University of Lesotho in 1995–96 before studying in the UK, where he gained a PhD in physics from the University of Manchester (1999). He then returned to the National University of Lesotho, serving successively as lecturer (1999–2004), senior lecturer (2004–09) and associate professor (2009–10).[2][3]

He was the Chief Executive Officer of Lesotho's Electricity and Water Authority (2010–16).[2][3]

Political career edit

In September 2016, he contested the Mosalemane No. 19 constituency.[2] He lost the seat to his older brother, Sam Rapapa, in the elections of 3 June 2017.[1] He was elected to the Senate in June 2017, and was appointed the Deputy Minister of Education and Training in July 2017. He has been the Minister of Education and Training since April 2018.[2][3] He served in the coalition government led by Tom Thabane.in 2022 he won elections and became a member of Parliament and then Minister of education and training

Personal life edit

He is married to 'Mapalesa; they have two children.[1][2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "I have achieved all my goals", Lesotho Times, 26 May 2019
  2. ^ a b c d e Honourable Prof. Ntoi Rapapa, Lesotho Government, retrieved 5 July 2019
  3. ^ a b c Hon. Prof. Ntoi Rapapa, Ministry of Education and Training, Lesotho Government, retrieved 5 July 2019