For over three decades, the children of St. John Primary “A” School in Funsi the district capital of Wa East have faced a harsh reality to learn, they had to lie in the dust.
Since 1990, a severe furniture crisis forced hundreds of pupils to sit on the bare floor of their classrooms. This long-standing struggle reached a historic turning point in 2024, when the compassionate partnership between Blissful Sight for Kids (BS4K) and their Swiss-based partners, Ghana Vision donates to the school.
Founded in 1948, St. John Primary A is one of the oldest educational institutions in the district. While the community initially celebrated the construction of new classrooms, the joy was short-lived as enrolment surged without a matching supply of furniture.
For years, parents and the Funsi Catholic Church made desperate attempts to fill the gap. Despite their sacrifices, the community could only provide seven dual desks.
Students who arrived at school neat and clean would return home covered in dirt after a day of sitting on the ground. Frustrated by the conditions, many parents began withdrawing their children, leading to a steady decline in student numbers.
The path to change began in 2019 during a routine eye screening by Bliss Eye Care. It was here that Dr. Zakarea Al-Hassan Balure (Manager of Bliss Eye Care) met a young boy named Kudus.
Kudus was not in school and suffered from a severe eye condition requiring surgery. After Dr. Balure successfully performed the operation and provided him with a new uniform and bag, Kudus finally stepped into a classroom only to find himself sitting on the floor.
“The teachers told me that while enrolment was increasing, the lack of furniture was forcing students to drop out,” Dr. Balure recalled.
Moved by the sight of children lying on their bellies to write, Dr. Balure initially donated 50 dual desks out of his own generosity. However, he knew the need was far greater.
Dr. Balure appealed to Ghana Vision, a non-profit organization in Switzerland. In 2024, the “good news” arrived: Ghana Vision would fully support a large-scale furniture donation for the school.
They donated 231 chairs, 45 desk for students, 6 desk for teachers, 30 chairs for nursery school, 8 tables for nursery school, and 30 folding chairs.
According to Zakarea, though his primary focus through BS4K is eye health, Dr. Balure emphasized that vision and environment are inseparable.
“Our focus is eye care, however, good eyesight combined with a good environment especially comfortable furniture will make school more enjoyable,” he stated.
The furniture was officially handed over in a ceremony filled with joy and tradition. Before the distribution, the Rev. Father of the Funsi Catholic Church blessed the desks.
Speaking to the news team Peter Hans Roost, an executive member of Ghana Vision, urged the students and teachers to maintain the furniture so it could serve future generations.
In an exclusive interview with the Head Teacher of St. John Primary “A” School , Mr. Maleek Yakubu noted that the donation has brought a new sense of dignity to the school.
“Children used to lie on their bellies to write. It hindered their writing skills and caused psychological trauma,” Yakubu explained. “Now, parents come just to see how beautiful the classrooms look with the Furniture.”
However, the Head Teacher noted that the current donation primarily serves the lower primary level. Like “Oliver Twist,” he made a passionate appeal for further support to cater for the upper primary students.
He also called on philanthropists to help renovate the 76-year-old school building, which has not seen a major renovation in two decades.
As the children of Funsi finally sit tall at their desks, the mission of Ghana Vision and BS4K continues, ensuring that every child has the clear sight and the proper seat to reach their full potential.
