On a bright morning in Mapoteng Community, Berea District, Sion Primary School was alive with music and hope.
The school was hosting a mission from the Global Partnership for Education (GPE), which had come to Lesotho to see first-hand how its support is changing lives. Children, teachers, parents and partners gathered to celebrate the progress and share their stories.
The day began with learners from Sion Primary performing a song they had composed to raise awareness about violence in schools and the wider issue of gender-based violence.
Their voices were strong and clear, and their message was simple: every child deserves to learn in a safe environment. The learners also performed traditional dances to show their appreciation for the support the school has received through the GPE.
How the GPE support works at the school
The support reached Sion Primary through the combined efforts of NECDOL, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Training, with funding from the GPE and coordination by the Lesotho Council of NGOs. Together, the organisations have worked to strengthen the foundations of learning in Lesotho, focusing especially on early childhood education.
At Sion Primary, this has taken the form of a new reception class, known as Grade R, funded under the GPE’s Multiplier 1 programme. In practice, the intervention works at three levels:
- The classroom. The reception class opened in January 2026 with 30 learners. Two have since left after their parents moved them to other schools.
- The teacher. Teacher ‘Mapaleo Qekisi was first trained to use the gadgets and tablets provided for teaching, and was equipped with learning materials and assessment tools. She later received training on the new curriculum.
- The home. Parents are involved as partners, using materials provided to create a safe space for learners.
What teachers and parents report
One parent, Matlotliso Thokoa, whose child is in Grade R, shared her gratitude for the Multiplier 1 programme funded by the GPE.
“This initiative contributes to quality education for our children,” she explained. “When I compare my child in the reception class with her older siblings, the difference is huge. The child in reception can already read, while the older ones struggled at that age and still struggle in their classes.”
Thokoa said she sees herself as a partner in her child’s education.
“I take myself as a partner in making sure that early childhood education is safe and the best for the children. I play my role as a parent by using materials provided to create a safe space for learners. I know I have nothing to worry about when my child is at school, because she has a great relationship with her teacher and is always eager to go. For that reason, I am convinced Sion Primary School is a safe school and helps my child grow in all aspects.”
Qekisi remembers well the excitement and challenges of the class’s first days. She said the programme is already showing results.
“The results of the programme are already visible,” she said. “The reception class learners are more developed in all five areas of child development compared to those who went straight to Grade 1 without early education. Even among those in reception, children who attended early childhood centres before are better developed than those experiencing early learning for the first time. This confirms the importance of early childhood education.”
The partners’ dinner
The mission’s visit did not end at the school. That evening, a dinner brought together private sector leaders, government officials and international partners to reflect on the progress and the partnership’s future.
Among the guests was Belay Addise, the GPE’s Regional Manager for Eastern and Southern Africa, who thanked everyone for their commitment and explained the GPE’s approach.
“We are not a donor entity,” said Addise. “We mobilise money from institutional and sovereign donors and allocate it to partner countries. But more than funding, we bring people together. We donot have our own country strategy. Lesotho has its own national development plan. We encourage governments and partners to identify one key reform priority in education. In Lesotho, that priority has been foundational learning and early childhood education, which has a high return on investment.”
The reception class at Sion Primary is the local face of that approach: early childhood education is Lesotho’s chosen priority, and the funding is turned into classrooms, trained teachers and learning materials.
Addise stressed coordination, data and domestic finance as the keys to real change.
“Are we coordinated in the sector? Do we have data and evidence? Do we have strong information systems? Is our planning gender-responsive? What is the situation with domestic finance? These are the main questions we ask countries to consider. Then we all agree on a partnership compact. In Lesotho, this compact has been valid for the last three or four years, and now is a critical time to look back and review the progress.”
He praised Lesotho as a leading example of private sector engagement in education.
“We keep citing Lesotho as the best practice when it comes to private sector engagement. It is one of the smallest countries on the continent, but here we have the best example.”
Addise also shared a proverb from his own country about the power of working together.
“Individually, a spider web is weak, but when webs come together, they can tie a lion. When the private sector in Lesotho comes together, your investment becomes more impactful and sustainable.”
Mohale Ralebitso, CEO of Vodacom Lesotho, welcomed new private sector partners, including banks and insurance companies, and spoke about giving every child in Lesotho the opportunity to learn.
“If we leave some children out, not because they lack ability, but because they lack means, we cannot call our system fair. It is our shared responsibility to ensure every person can develop their abilities. I know firsthand how education changes lives. I am here today because I was lucky enough to come from a village that could provide the means for me to be educated,” Ralebitso said.
He said the partnership had already unlocked $2.5 million with the help of various organisations, and that visitors including tennis champion Roger Federer had seen the programme in action.
Ralebitso stressed science, technology, engineering and mathematics, but recognised that all disciplines matter in building complete human beings.
“Through this partnership, we have reached 500 students. Let’s make it more. Let’s cover every district. Government cannot do it alone. It is our job too.”
He ended with a call to action: “If we raise everyone’s standard of thinking, we can improve the world. Education is the key. Let’s not allow Africa to remain the continent with the least educated children when partnerships like this can change that.”
Dr Bob Muchabaiwa, UNICEF Country Representative, praised the leadership of the Ministry of Education and the coordinating role of the Lesotho Council of NGOs. He said education in Lesotho has become a national agenda, not just a sector issue.
“For us to achieve our goals, we must continue to work together in a coordinated and effective way. Domestic financing is important and is taking many forms, but what is striking in Lesotho is the private sector’s belief in this agenda. Over the past week, we have seen many new actors join, and the number of private sector partners has more than doubled.”
He said the private sector is working on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to set up a sustainable mechanism for continuous investment in education.
“The ground is fertile,” he concluded. “Together, we can help bring quality education to every Mosotho child in all 10 districts.”
Principal Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Training Ratšiu Majara spoke about the importance of unity and partnership in building the nation through education.
“Without education, this country would be ruined,” Majara said. “Countries like Singapore invested in health and education, both the private sector and the government together. They do not have special resources, but their economies are growing because they invested in human capital.”
He said the country has already seen progress since the partnership began.
“Every year, the quality of passes is improving at the basic education level, and more learners are accessing the education system. When these learners move to higher education and technical colleges, we will have a group of well-prepared people to lead our country forward.”
Sion Primary is one example of how partnership is making a difference across Lesotho. With 369 learners, 16 teachers and a growing reception class, the school is laying the foundations for a brighter future. Through the combined efforts of government, the private sector, international partners and the local community, Lesotho is showing that when people come together, real change is possible.
Summary
- The support reached Sion Primary through the combined efforts of NECDOL, UNICEF and the Ministry of Education and Training, with funding from the GPE and coordination by the Lesotho Council of NGOs.
- “I take myself as a partner in making sure that early childhood education is safe and the best for the children.
- I know I have nothing to worry about when my child is at school, because she has a great relationship with her teacher and is always eager to go.
Ntsoaki Motaung is an award-winning health journalist from Lesotho, specializing in community health stories with a focus on sexual and reproductive health and rights, as well as HIV. She has contributed to platforms like “Be in the KNOW,” highlighting issues such as the exclusion of people with disabilities from HIV prevention efforts in Lesotho.
In addition to her journalism, Ntsoaki serves as the Country Coordinator for the Regional Media Action Plan Support Network (REMAPSEN). She is also a 2023 CPHIA Journalism Fellow.
