Classrooms Without Conflict: How Students are Choosing Peace in Lesotho
A small rural village in southern Lesotho was once plagued by frequent school boycotts, protests, and vandalism. Today, a 16-year-old student from that very school shares a completely different reality:
"Fighting has decreased a lot. Now, we resolve conflicts among ourselves, or we talk to the Peace Minister." — Relebohile Maseru, 10th Grade, Libaneng High School
The "Peace Minister" is not a government official. It is a leadership role held by the students themselves. When conflicts arise, students seek out their peer representatives instead of teachers to talk things through.
How did this remarkable transformation begin?
From Empty Classrooms and Vandalism to Dialogue
Lesotho, a mountain kingdom in southern Africa, faces steep socio-economic challenges. Over 54% of the population lives below the poverty line, and youth unemployment stands at 34%. For many young people, a lack of opportunities leads to deep-seated frustration, which historically spilled over into classrooms as verbal and physical violence.
Faced with feeling unheard, students often resorted to school boycotts.
When Principal Puleng Nkalaiče arrived at Libaneng High School in 2019, enrollment had plummeted to under 100 students. Deep mistrust divided teachers and students, and internal conflicts threatened to shut the school down entirely.
"We knew we needed change. But we didn't know where to start." — Puleng Nkalaiče, Principal of Libaneng High School
Searching for a solution, Principal Puleng connected with HWPL (Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) through the Development for Peace Education (DPE), a local civil society organization. Together, they began integrating HWPL's Peace Education into the daily life of the school.
Empowering Students as "Peace Ministers"
HWPL’s Peace Education is not just about memorizing theories; it is about practicing values like diversity, cooperation, respect, and coexistence in daily life.
To implement this, Libaneng High School restructured its student governance. Students took on active ministerial roles:
Peace Minister (resolving student conflicts)
Education Minister
Food Security Minister
Finance Minister
Instead of boycotting classes when issues arose, students used their representative system to find constructive solutions. For example, when a lack of funding threatened to keep students from participating in a sports tournament in 2020, the student ministers organized a successful fundraising campaign themselves.
The Ripple Effect: Academic Excellence and Stronger Communities
This peace initiative did not stop at one school. It quickly spread to other institutions across Lesotho, yielding unexpected and brilliant results.
1. Morifi Community High School: Peace Boosts Academic Ranking
Principal Noangelina Debeshe started the peace curriculum in 2021 with just one other teacher. Today, the entire faculty is involved. Every Monday is designated as "Peace Education Day," where students choose a specific peace value to practice throughout the week.
The results went beyond reducing conflicts:
Students learned to resolve disputes independently through dialogue.
A peaceful, stable classroom environment allowed students to focus entirely on their studies.
In 2024, Morifi Community High School ranked 8th nationwide in the Lesotho Examinations Council's Top 10 schools.
"This is the fruit of peace education. By practicing peace, our classrooms changed, and that change directly reflected in our academic success." — Noangelina Debeshe, Principal of Morifi Community High School
2. Lekopa Community Primary School: The Power of "I'm Sorry"
At Lekopa Community Primary School, Principal Maletaco Mariam Kabele and Vice Principal Makopano Chaka teach children to express gratitude and respect.
The impact is best described by 9-year-old Bohlokoa Lisene:
"Manini pushed Katleho, but he immediately went over and said, 'I'm sorry.'"
"Peace My Lesotho": 100 Teachers Stand Together for the Future
In March 2026, a milestone event in Maseru highlighted that this movement is becoming a national trend. HWPL and DPE hosted a Peace Education Teacher Graduation Ceremony, celebrating 100 local teachers who completed the training.
The event was attended by Lesotho's curriculum evaluation officials, signaling strong government support for integrating peace education into the national public curriculum.
The graduating teachers jointed voices to recite the "Peace My Lesotho" pledge, committing to:
Practice peace as an active lifestyle, not just a slogan.
Continuously research and deliver high-quality peace education.
Foster environments of mutual respect and care in their schools.
Build local peace networks to transform Lesotho from the grassroots up.
A New Culture of Peace
The story of Lesotho proves that peace is not an abstract dream—it is a practical skill that can be taught, practiced, and lived. What started as an experimental curriculum in a struggling rural school has blossomed into a national movement, transforming student behavior, community relationships, and academic outcomes.
As Principal Noangelina beautifully puts it:
"Peace education is possible. If it worked in our school, it can work anywhere. Peace starts with one person, and then spreads to the family, the school, the community, and the nation."
Source: https://vo.la/x3KYczp
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