By Ibrahim S. Bangura
Bo District, Sierra Leone – February 11, 2026: The Paul School for the Blind has issued an urgent appeal for assistance as worsening funding constraints and care challenges threaten the survival of the institution and the wellbeing of its visually impaired students.
Headmaster Mohamed Sallieu Conteh revealed that the school, which currently accommodates about 60 students, is struggling with severe shortages of learning materials, furniture, and essential teaching aids. Many desks and chairs are damaged, hindering effective teaching and learning.
Pressing Challenges
Conteh lamented that some parents abandon their blind children at the school, leaving the institution to shoulder full responsibility for their care.
While the school receives government support, Conteh described it as grossly insufficient to cover salaries, transportation, maintenance, food, and medical emergencies. Frequent food shortages affect students’ concentration and academic performance, while poor nutrition and limited healthcare access lead to illness and absenteeism.
The school cannot afford digital recorders and computers, essential for modern education and computer literacy among visually impaired learners. Accommodation facilities are inadequate, with buildings in urgent need of renovation.
Despite these challenges, Conteh praised the dedication of staff and highlighted success stories of former students who have attained higher education and employment, some returning to support the institution. “These successes are helping to change societal perceptions. People are beginning to understand that blindness does not mean inability,” he said.
Founded in 1997 by the late Paul Joseph, a retired teacher of Christ the King College (CKC), the school was established to provide inclusive education for blind children in southern Sierra Leone, who previously had to travel to Freetown for specialized schooling.
Conteh and his team are calling on government, NGOs, corporate institutions, and compassionate citizens to step in. “We are doing our best, but we cannot do it alone,” he stressed.