Learners with visual impairments at Hornby High School in Kabale District are facing increasing challenges in accessing quality education due to deteriorating facilities and inadequate resources at the institution.
Established in 1923, Hornby High School is one of Uganda’s oldest specialized schools for learners with visual impairments. However, the institution is struggling with aging infrastructure and critical shortages of equipment necessary to support effective learning.
The school’s head teacher, Catherine Kobusingye, said the institution lacks essential equipment, including Braille embossers used to produce reading materials for learners with visual impairments.
She also noted that the school environment has become difficult for learners to navigate independently because of inadequate infrastructure.
“The school compound does not have well-constructed walkways connecting classrooms and sanitation facilities, making it challenging for our visually impaired learners to move around independently,” Kobusingye said.
Kobusingye further expressed concern over parental attitudes toward children with disabilities, saying some parents prioritize paying school fees and providing scholastic materials for their non-disabled children while neglecting those with visual impairments.
“Many visually impaired learners report to school late and without the necessary scholastic materials,” she added.
Gilbert Biryawaho, a teacher specializing in visual impairment education, said the school currently has only three specialized teachers serving 27 visually impaired learners, creating pressure on the available staff.
According to Biryawaho, the shortage of specialized teachers limits the level of support and individualized attention learners require to excel academically.
The Kabale Municipal Deputy Town Clerk, Eric Sunday, acknowledged the challenges facing the school and said local authorities are seeking support to address the situation.
He explained that the municipality became aware of the school’s needs after the current financial year's budget had already been approved, making it difficult to immediately allocate resources.
“The municipality is currently engaging the Ministry of Education and Sports to seek assistance for the school,” Sunday said.
School administrators and teachers are hopeful that intervention from the ministry and other stakeholders will help improve facilities, provide specialized learning materials, and enhance the learning environment for visually impaired learners at the historic institution.