By Alie Badara In Bo
While schools across Sierra Leone resumed full- scale operations after the nationwide strike, Bo Government Secondary School remains closed, causing growing concern among parents and guardians.
Since the official reopening on Monday, September 8, 2025, many have been anxious about why this prominent institution has yet to welcome back its students.
The delay has sparked rumors that the Junior Secondary School (JSS) sector might reopen in October 2025, while the Senior Secondary School (SSS) sector may not reopen until December 2025.
Such speculation has frustrated parents who worry about how their children will complete the syllabus in time.
Reverend Hassan Kainesie, the Principal of Bo Government Secondary School, spoke candidly about the situation.
He explained that the school is undergoing extensive rehabilitation work around the clock to ensure a high -quality, long-lasting facility that will serve students well into the future.
He revealed that the contractor, Albert Leigh of Hariss Construction and Engineering Services, has committed to handing over a significant portion of the infrastructure by Monday, October 13, 2025, which will allow schooling to resume effectively.
Principal Kainesie dismissed the ongoing rumors on social media as unfounded and aimed at tarnishing the school’s reputation.
The Principal also praised the effort of Sierra Leone’s President, Retired Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, who added a new dormitory named “Beijing” to the school, increasing the total dormitories from four to five. This addition symbolizes the strong bilateral ties between Sierra Leone and China.
According to the principal, Reverend Hassan Kainesie, 89% of the rehabilitation work has been completed.
The contractor is currently focused on smoothing the remaining repairs to deliver a uniform and well-prepared learning environment before a formal handover to government and school authorities.
Albert Leigh, CEO of Hariss Construction and Engineering Services, confirmed the ongoing 24-hours work schedule to meet the project deadline.
He highlighted the distinctiveness of Bo Government Secondary School as a 100% boarding school, making the work more complex compared to schools like Kenema Government Secondary, which have partial boarding arrangements.
The project receives financial support from BADEA, the Saudi Fund; OPEC Fund for Development, and the Government of Sierra Leone, emphasizing its importance and scale.
Both the principal and the contractor are urging parents and caregivers to be patient and understanding during this crucial period.
The contractor has reassured the community that these temporary delays are necessary to provide a safer, better and more enabling learning environment when the school reopens on Monday, October 13, 2025.
The rehabilitation efforts at Bo Government Secondary School, though inconvenient now, promise lasting benefits for students’ education and wellbeing, ensuring the school remains one of Sierra Leone’s top educational institutions in the years ahead.