Makondu Gets First Ever Secondary School
By Mohamed Muckson Sesay (The One)
Makondu Village in Yoni Mabanta Chiefdom, Tonkolili District has opened a new chapter in its educational history with the establishment of the Kehklee-Lakkoh Memorial Agricultural Secondary School (K-MASS), nearly a century after the community embraced formal primary education.
The school was officially opened on Friday, 25 September 2026, under the Kehklee-Lakkoh Impact Mission (KLIM), founded by Colonel (Retired) Muhammed Musa Hashim.
The establishment of K-MASS marks the introduction of secondary education within a community whose formal educational history dates back approximately a century to the establishment of the United Methodist Church (UMC) Primary School, one of the earliest primary schools in the area. For generations, however, children completing primary education in Makondu had to travel several miles outside the community to pursue secondary education.
The establishment of K-MASS is expected to reduce that burden, while creating opportunities for young people to continue their education closer to home. The initiative to establish the secondary school did not begin with a formal campaign by the community. According to stakeholders, the idea emerged after Colonel Hashim became aware of the absence of a secondary school in Makondu and the challenges faced by young people who wished to continue their education.
Through a delegation, Colonel Hashim subsequently engaged stakeholders in Makondu to explore the possibility of establishing a secondary school in the community. The proposal received a positive response, with community stakeholders making an unfinished community centre available to serve as the initial facility for the school. The centre, constructed through the initiative of the late Dr. Elvis Gbanabom Hallowell, was subsequently rehabilitated and adapted to accommodate the school’s activities. The transformation of the unfinished community facility into a school provided the physical foundation upon which K-MASS began its operations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Evangelist Edward Bai Koroma, a Makondu stakeholder and Chairperson of the occasion, recalled the challenges faced by children who previously had to travel long distances to access secondary education.
“For many years, our children have had to walk long distances every day to attend secondary school. Today, we are witnessing a new chapter for Makondu,” Evangelist Koroma said.
He commended Colonel Hashim for responding to the educational needs of the community and praised Makondu stakeholders for embracing the initiative.
“The people of Makondu have accepted this opportunity wholeheartedly. We have given the community centre for the school to begin its learning activities, because we believe education is fundamental to the future of our children,” he stated.
The establishment of K-MASS has also attracted support from Makondu indigenes and friends of the community both within Sierra Leone and abroad.
Among those identified as supporting the initiative are Hon. Lamin Gbanabom Sankoh and Dr. Victor Koroma, both based in the United Kingdom, as well as Solomon Kamara and Prince Hallowell, members of the Makondu Descendants Union (MDU) in Freetown. Their support has contributed to the broader community effort surrounding the establishment of the school.
While the initiative originated from Colonel Hashim and KLIM, stakeholders say its long-term success will depend on sustained community participation and support.
K-MASS is being established with a broader vision that extends beyond conventional classroom education.
Under KLIM, the school is intended to promote academic education alongside agriculture, skills development, youth empowerment, moral development, humanitarian service and sustainable community development.
The objective is to equip young people with knowledge and practical skills that can contribute to their personal development and the advancement of their communities.
Presenting the vision and mission of KLIM and its founder and chairman, Mr. Mustapha Hassan Kargbo, Deputy Chairman of KLIM and Principal of K-MASS Rokimbe II, urged parents, teachers, students and community members to take collective responsibility for the success of the institution.
“This school is an opportunity that must be protected and properly utilized. Parents, teachers and students all have a responsibility to ensure that the vision behind this initiative becomes a reality,” Kargbo told the gathering.
He subsequently introduced the school’s Acting Principal, David Bai Conteh, together with members of the teaching staff, and appealed to residents to cooperate with and support them.
The opening ceremony brought together community stakeholders, parents, religious leaders, teachers, students and residents from Makondu and neighbouring communities. The event combined the celebration of education with the cultural and religious traditions of the community.
A colourful Bubu cultural performance was organized by residents to welcome the principal and teaching staff, adding a strong cultural dimension to the historic occasion.
Christian and Muslim religious leaders also offered prayers for the school, its students and teachers, its leadership and supporters, as well as the wider Makondu community.
Their participation underscored the shared importance placed on education and the future of children in the community.
The significance of K-MASS is closely connected to Makondu’s long educational history.
The establishment of the United Methodist Church Primary School approximately a century ago, introduced generations of children in the community to formal primary education.
However, for many years, access to secondary education required students to travel outside Makondu. The opening of K-MASS now provides an opportunity to bridge that gap by bringing secondary education closer to families in the community.
Beyond academic instruction, the school is expected to expose students to agriculture, practical skills and community-oriented development, consistent with the broader objectives of KLIM.
The opening of K-MASS represents the beginning of a new phase rather than the conclusion of Makondu’s educational journey. The institution will require continued support from its leadership, teachers, parents, students, community stakeholders, government, development partners and well-wishers to achieve its intended objectives. For Makondu, however, the significance of the milestone is already clear.
On 25 September 2026, the community added a new chapter to an educational story that began almost a century ago with primary education at the United Methodist Church Primary School. That story has now progressed to secondary education through the Kehklee-Lakkoh Memorial Agricultural Secondary School. At the centre of this new chapter is Colonel (Retired) Muhammed Musa Hashim, whose response to an identified educational need brought KLIM and Makondu stakeholders together around a common vision. With the unfinished community centre initiated by the late Dr. Elvis Gbanabom Hallowell providing the initial physical foundation, and with support from Makondu sons and daughters at home and abroad, the vision has moved from an idea to an operating secondary school. For Makondu, the opening of K-MASS is therefore more than the launch of another school. It represents the continuation of a century-old educational legacy and the beginning of a new journey for generations of young people yet to come.
