Due to the low pass rate in the villages, Makondo recently mobilised local successful community members including pastors, business people, along with royal family members in one place with the aim to engage with learners from the four schools in the area. The schools visited were Jim Rhangani High School, Nghalalume Primary School, Chamandu High School, and Tlharihani Primary School.

“Kids understand things better if they hear it from someone they can relate to, hence we had to organise local successful people to come to the four schools to talk to them about what works and what doesn’t to be successful in life,” he said. According to him, another reason for the campaign is to prevent early pregnancy among high school girls, as well as to create awareness about alcohol and drug abuse, school drop-outs, and the low pass rate.

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“As part of this community, I felt the need to take steps to mitigate the situation by showing learners the way to a better life, hence the motivation also focused on guiding learners on how to come to school on time, wear proper uniform and respect their teachers,” he said. Makondo added that there would be a follow-up meeting to assess if what the learners were told, was being followed.

“The plan is to get the parents to each adopt a class at the four schools, which will assist in monitoring the progress better,” he said. The circuit manager for the Nsami area, Sevha Thomas Makhuvele welcomed the initiative, saying it would help the learners understand the need to come to school as well as the importance of education.