Lesotho Association of Teachers Condemns Intimate Relationships Between Teachers and Learners

The Lesotho Association of Teachers (LAT) has taken a firm stance against teachers who engage in intimate relationships with their students, describing such actions as deeply unethical, unprofessional, and damaging to the integrity of the teaching profession.

In a strongly worded statement released by the association, LAT emphasized that these acts are not only a gross violation of professional boundaries, but they also corrode trust, endanger learners, and undermine the core responsibilities of educators.

“There cannot be any convincing reason for such unethical behaviour,” read part of the statement. “These actions are heinous, trust-corrosive, and perilous to the students. They tarnish the image and very foundation of the teaching profession.”

LAT, which represents primary and post-primary teachers across Lesotho, highlighted the importance of upholding high moral and professional standards in education. The association stressed that teachers are entrusted with the responsibility of shaping future generations and must serve as ethical role models at all times.

The association’s Code of Conduct clearly outlines the principles and expected behaviours of its members in relation to learners, fellow educators, authorities, and the broader school community. LAT noted that this Code of Conduct aligns closely with the Ministry of Education and Training’s Codes of Good Practice (2011), providing a comprehensive framework for ethical conduct.

“Even teachers who are not members of LAT are still bound by official government regulations that prohibit such relationships,” the statement continued. “Those who engage in these inappropriate acts do so entirely out of personal choice, not due to a lack of clear guidelines.”

In light of recent concerns, LAT has called on the public, the government, and all educators to unite in condemning these unacceptable actions. The association urged the government to ensure swift legal action against any teacher implicated in inappropriate conduct with learners.

Furthermore, the union encouraged students to speak up and report any such incidents, highlighting that perpetrators often rely on silence and fear to continue their misconduct. LAT reaffirmed its commitment to protecting students and upholding the dignity of the teaching profession.

Founded in 1986 and formally registered in 1995 under the Labour Code Order No. 24 of 1992, the Lesotho Association of Teachers is a professional union that defends the socio-economic and professional rights of educators. Its mission is firmly rooted in the ILO/UNESCO recommendations on the status of teachers, which emphasize ethics, integrity, and accountability in education.

As part of its broader mandate, LAT remains dedicated to promoting safe, respectful, and empowering learning environments across Lesotho’s schools — environments where both learners and teachers thrive under the guidance of professionalism and mutual respect.