New School Opens in Lengekoro, Bringing Education Closer to Home

The newly completed Lengekoro Senior Secondary School in the Koinadugu District is now open to students thanks to the support of Schools for Salone (SfS) and its generous donors, Sean and Diana Mulligan. This marks the seventeenth high school in the district, significantly expanding access to education in Sierra Leone’s northern province. 

Completed in just 78 days, that is 12 days ahead of schedule, the school is a product of strong community collaboration. Youth groups, women, and local residents came together to support the construction, proving once again that when communities unite, progress accelerates. 

Alongside the three-classroom building, a brand new soccer field was constructed and has already become a hub of student activity during school sports events. 

Clinton Caulker, SfS partner, shared, “The new three-classroom building at Lengekoro Muslim Agricultural Secondary School addresses key challenges like accommodation, security, and transportation, enabling students to study closer to home. This supports active learning, increases enrollment, and allows the school to expand to three academic streams, helping students stay with their families.”

From Thatched Roof to Solid Foundation

When Lengekoro started its Senior Secondary School (SSS) in 2023, classes were held under a thatched roof. Despite the conditions, the community was determined to keep students from dropping out after Junior Secondary School (JSS). 

“In this thatched building, during the rains, we cannot keep normal classes,” said Foday J. Mansaray, Lengekoro JSS & SSS’ Principal. 

Image of the old Lengekoro SSS

Yet, in these difficult circumstances, enrollment grew in Lengekoro SSS from 42 students when they opened to 87 pupils today. The community is clear about continuing the education of their children, no matter what. 

Now, thanks to the generosity of long-time Schools for Salone donors, Sean and Diana Mulligan, Lengekoro has a new three-classroom school building and a soccer field. This creates a new hope for what once seemed impossible for the children in the area. 

“We started supporting SfS with a basic desire to support access to education in Sierra Leone. We soon realised we were connected with a lean, decisive-oriented NGO (SfS) that puts most of its contributions into action. It is rewarding to give when you see so much contribution immediately and directly benefit many children,” Sean and Diana Mulligan. 

Image of the new school building

Impact of the New School

Koinadugu has some of the lowest learning outcomes and secondary school completion rates in Sierra Leone. But with the construction of the new Lengekoro Senior Secondary School, things are bound to get better. 

Thanks to the unprecedented community participation, the school, which broke ground in January, has already been completed.

For the first time, students in Lengekoro will be able to complete all 12 years of basic and secondary education without walking five or more kilometers to school each day. 

The impact will be felt for generations to come.