From Darkness to New Possibilities: How Electricity Is Transforming Education at Makoae Combined School

Access to electricity can transform a school in ways that extend far beyond simply switching on lights. At Makoae Combined School in Qacha’s Nek, access to reliable energy represents a new opportunity for learners, teachers and the wider school community. When classrooms have electricity, learning no longer has to stop when daylight fades and teachers can make greater use of educational resources available to them. Learners can also gain more time to study, conduct research and connect with opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings. The experience of Makoae Combined School shows why energy access is closely connected to education, opportunity, dignity and long-term community development.

For schools that previously operated without reliable electricity, the arrival of energy can change the daily learning environment significantly. Teachers can access digital and educational materials on site instead of relying only on resources that can be used during daylight hours. Learners can study for longer when circumstances require it and can have greater exposure to technology that plays an increasingly important role in education. Electricity can also support basic school operations, creating a more suitable environment for teaching and administration. These improvements can help schools provide learners with a broader and more effective educational experience.

The impact becomes particularly important in underserved communities where access to infrastructure remains limited. Without electricity, schools can face practical challenges that affect both teaching and learning, especially during periods when daylight hours are limited. Teachers may have fewer opportunities to use digital resources while learners can struggle to complete schoolwork after sunset. The absence of electricity can also limit access to computers, internet connectivity and other technologies that have become increasingly important in modern education. Providing reliable energy therefore addresses a basic infrastructure gap while creating conditions that allow schools and learners to pursue new possibilities.

Makoae Combined School offers a clear example of how renewable energy access can contribute to educational development in Lesotho. Located in Qacha’s Nek, the school serves learners in a community where access to essential services can have a direct impact on educational opportunities. The introduction of electricity creates possibilities for learning that were previously constrained by the availability of daylight and other infrastructure. Teachers can access learning materials at the school while learners can use additional time and resources to strengthen their studies. The change demonstrates how a relatively basic service can have wider consequences for education and community development.

The story forms part of the Renewable Lesotho: Access to Affordable and Renewable Energy project, known as RL: AARE. The project is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and its partners to expand affordable, reliable and sustainable energy access in underserved communities across Lesotho. Its focus reflects the broader understanding that energy access is essential for social and economic development. Renewable energy can provide communities with cleaner and more sustainable sources of power while helping address gaps in access to modern energy services. Projects such as RL: AARE can therefore contribute to improvements that extend well beyond household electricity use.

For education, reliable energy can provide benefits that continue long after an energy project has been completed. Schools can make better use of educational technology, access digital information and create opportunities for learners to develop skills that are increasingly relevant in the modern economy. Teachers can also improve how they prepare lessons and access professional and educational resources. These opportunities can help reduce some of the disadvantages experienced by learners in communities with limited infrastructure. Over time, improved energy access can contribute to stronger educational outcomes and greater exposure to opportunities beyond the local community.

Electricity can also change how learners view their own potential. Access to technology and information can help young people explore subjects, careers and educational opportunities that may previously have seemed distant or inaccessible. A learner who can research information online, access educational resources or study after dark has more options than a learner whose activities are restricted by the availability of daylight. These opportunities can encourage greater independence and curiosity while helping learners develop skills that can support future study and employment. Energy access can therefore become an important part of creating a more inclusive education system.

Teachers also stand to benefit from improved energy access because electricity can make educational preparation and classroom delivery more flexible. Access to learning materials on site can reduce the practical limitations associated with working in a school without power. Teachers can use digital resources to supplement traditional teaching materials and potentially introduce learners to new forms of educational content. Electricity can also support administrative functions, helping schools manage information and communication more efficiently. A better-equipped school environment can ultimately benefit both educators and learners.

The importance of renewable energy extends beyond the immediate benefits of powering classrooms. Reliable and sustainable energy can help communities build infrastructure that supports long-term development without depending solely on conventional energy sources. For a country such as Lesotho, expanding access to renewable energy can contribute to broader efforts to improve living conditions in communities that have historically experienced energy shortages. The approach can also support environmental sustainability while addressing practical development needs. When renewable energy reaches schools, clinics, businesses and households, its impact can spread throughout the community.

Makoae Combined School illustrates why energy access should be viewed as an investment in people rather than simply an infrastructure project. A school with electricity can become a stronger centre of learning, communication and opportunity for the community it serves. Learners gain access to possibilities that can support their education while teachers gain resources that can strengthen their work. The benefits can also extend to parents and community members as the school becomes better connected to information and modern technology. This wider impact makes energy access an important component of sustainable community development.

The work being carried out through the RL: AARE Project highlights the importance of partnerships in expanding access to affordable and sustainable energy. UNDP and its partners are working to address energy challenges in underserved communities across Lesotho, with the aim of making reliable energy more accessible. Such initiatives can help create conditions in which schools and other community institutions are better equipped to serve the people who depend on them. The focus on affordability and sustainability is particularly important because energy access must be practical and dependable over the long term. Expanding access today can help communities build stronger foundations for future development.

The transformation at Makoae Combined School offers a powerful reminder that darkness is not simply an absence of light. For learners and teachers, a lack of electricity can also represent limited access to information, technology and opportunities. Bringing reliable renewable energy into schools can begin to remove those barriers and create an environment where learning can continue beyond daylight hours. The experience shows how energy access can support dignity, education and ambition while opening doors to opportunities that were previously difficult to reach. As Lesotho continues expanding sustainable energy access, schools such as Makoae Combined School demonstrate what becomes possible when communities are given the power to learn, connect and build a better future.