In a move to strengthen inclusive education and improve access to learning materials for visually impaired students, the Third Order Society of St Francis (TSSF) Lesotho Group has donated a Braille printer to St Catherine’s High School’s Centre for the Blind.
The equipment, handed over this week, was funded through the Government of Monaco’s Department of International Cooperation’s financial assistance to the TSSF.
The package includes the Everest-D V5 Braille printer and Duxbury Braille Translator software, valued at about M113,000.
The printer converts text and images into raised dots, while the software translates documents into accurate Braille, allowing learners to access and produce learning material more independently.
Established in 1906, St Catherine’s is the only institution in Lesotho offering secondary education tailored for visually impaired learners. Its Centre for the Blind currently accommodates 24 students.
School headmaster Dr Ntoa Nkanda said the donation comes at a critical time, addressing long-standing challenges in teaching visually impaired learners, particularly in subjects requiring diagrams such as mathematics and science.
“We have no words to describe our gratitude for this journey of fostering inclusive learning for our learners. You have once again rescued us from going down under, especially because we did not have the financial resources to buy the Braille printer,” Dr Nkanda said.
“Our old Braille printer broke down around September last year, and since then, we struggled a lot with the learning process, and we even had to hire help from another nearby school.”
He noted that the new equipment is already yielding results, with improved learner performance.
“We are already seeing the positive impact of the TSSF’s support in our school, as we had a visually impaired student who obtained a pass in mathematics for the first during the 2025 end of year examinations. This is quite notable since passing mathematics for visually impaired learners had always been a serious challenge for our learners.”
The donation builds on earlier support in 2025, when TSSF, also with Monaco funding, provided Braille writing machines and specialised paper. The latest addition strengthens the school’s capacity to produce a wider range of learning materials.
On his part, TSSF’s advisor Chaba Mokuku explained that the initiative reflects Monaco’s broader commitment to development in Lesotho and other partner countries. He noted that the tiny country supports projects across Africa and the Middle East, focusing on education, health and economic development.
The new printer enhances efficiency by producing Braille quickly, printing on both sides of the paper and supporting tactile graphics such as diagrams and maps. It is also compatible with multiple devices, making it easier to integrate into the school’s learning system.
Summary
- In a move to strengthen inclusive education and improve access to learning materials for visually impaired students, the Third Order Society of St Francis (TSSF) Lesotho Group has donated a Braille printer to St Catherine’s High School’s Centre for the Blind.
- A state-of-the-art Braille printer now at St Catherine’s High School is transforming learning for visually impaired students, producing tactile text and diagrams that make lessons more accessible and inclusive.
- “We are already seeing the positive impact of the TSSF’s support in our school, as we had a visually impaired student who obtained a pass in mathematics for the first during the 2025 end of year examinations.
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