By Aminata Abu Bakarr Kamara
The Welfare Society for the Disabled Sierra Leone (WESOFOD-SL), with support from Trócaire through the Accelerating and Promoting Education for All (APEAL) Project, has distributed teaching and learning materials to five primary schools in Pujehun Town in a move aimed at strengthening inclusive education for children with disabilities.
The beneficiary schools are UMA Primary School, UBC Primary School, Ansaru Primary School, Every Nation Academy Primary School and UMC Primary School.
The donation forms part of WESOFOD-SL’s broader efforts to improve access to quality education for children with disabilities while promoting inclusive learning environments where every child has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Beyond providing educational materials, WESOFOD-SL has undertaken significant infrastructure improvements in the five adopted schools under the APEAL Project. The organisation constructed ramps, widened classroom doorways and carried out rehabilitation works to ensure school facilities are accessible to learners with disabilities. Teachers from the beneficiary schools also received specialised training in inclusive education to strengthen their capacity to support children with diverse learning needs.
The presentation ceremony brought together officials from the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), the Pujehun District Council, civil society organisations, school authorities, members of the media and other community stakeholders.
Addressing the gathering, Executive Director of WESOFOD-SL, Joseph Alieu Kamara, expressed appreciation to the management and staff of the beneficiary schools for their cooperation throughout the implementation of the project.
He described the donation as another demonstration of the organisation’s commitment to advancing inclusive education and improving learning opportunities for children with disabilities across Pujehun District.
Kamara urged teachers to make effective use of the donated materials to improve classroom instruction and create a more supportive learning environment for all pupils.
The Assistant Deputy Director of the Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education in Pujehun District, Thomas Abu, commended WESOFOD-SL for its unwavering support to persons with disabilities, describing the organisation as one of the district’s most reliable development partners.
He encouraged teachers and school administrators to ensure that the materials are properly utilised to maximise their impact on pupils’ academic performance.
Speaking on behalf of civil society organisations, Abdulai J. Sillah applauded WESOFOD-SL for its consistent contributions to education and disability inclusion across the district.
He assured the organisation that civil society groups would continue to monitor the beneficiary schools to ensure the donated materials are used for their intended purpose and benefit the targeted learners.
Also addressing the event, the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) Officer of the Pujehun District Council, Ensa Kaikai, said the Council was proud of WESOFOD-SL’s achievements, noting that the organisation’s interventions complement the Government’s efforts to improve access to quality education and promote inclusive development.
Receiving the donation on behalf of the beneficiary schools, Headmistress of UMA Primary School, Madam Kadiatu Bashiru Sheriff, expressed gratitude to WESOFOD-SL and Trócaire for both the accessibility improvements and the educational materials.
She said the support would significantly improve teaching and learning in the schools and pledged that the donated items would be carefully managed and used for the benefit of all pupils, particularly children with disabilities.
The latest intervention marks another important milestone in the implementation of the APEAL Project in Pujehun District. By combining infrastructure improvements, teacher capacity building and the provision of learning materials, WESOFOD-SL continues to promote inclusive, accessible and equitable education, ensuring that no child is left behind regardless of ability.
Education stakeholders at the ceremony described the initiative as a practical example of how collaboration between development partners, government institutions and local communities can help break barriers to education and create schools where every learner has the opportunity to thrive.
Copyright –Published in Expo Times News on Wednesday, 15th July 2026 (ExpoTimes News – Expo Media Group (expomediasl.com)
