The Eastern Cape Department of Education in partnership with Love Life, Small Projects Foundation  and Masibumbane Development Organization held  Zero Learner Dropout Campaign for the Eastern Cape Province in Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay Education District. 

The 3 day Strategic Review session came as a mandate which seeks to identify dropouts in the Education system and brings these learners back to class  using the check and connect model programmed to trace those learners. 

Setting the scene during the session was the Youth and Special Programmes Director, Zukiswa Njotini, where she highlighted the main priorities of the campaign.  She said, "The campaign sets to change perception of school dropouts regarded as normal accuracy by demostration and hopes that the Partnership will work hard, to increase the programme to a national awareness compaign, addressing the problem of school dropout and action towards it."

Possible Issues connected with dropout of learners was presented by Masibumbane Development Organization Mentor, Phumezi Govane. In her presentation Phumezi mentioned the risķ factors causing school dropout saying, "Learners can dropout due to Poor academic performance, family issues and the kind of school which they attend too and this can result to behavioral problems and absenteeism."

"Love Life has already started the baseline and interventions, to contribute towards improving the health outcomes, targeting audience between the age of 10 - 24 years"  said the Provincial Programme Manager Themba Maseti.

One of the question and answer session participants, Education Support Services, Official from Chris Hani East Education District, Onke Ncobo said, "The session was more of a jack up for us, as the district officials to focus  pure mindset  and tune in on our expectations as Education Officials, to fight against the high volume of dropout in the system and hope that such a campaign can be escalated to the top management.