From One Classroom to a Community Beacon in Ghana

What began as a dream in a single classroom has become a beacon of hope for children in Accra. Mr. Bernard K. Sasu, a former journalist turned educator, is the visionary behind St. Bernard’s Sass Academy, a school founded not for profit, but for purpose.

"I literally dreamt of myself teaching," Bernard recalls. When land challenges forced him to close his first school in 2005, he refused to give up. In 2011, he started again with one classroom and one student, his own child. “People were surprised I was starting a school with only one room,” he says. “But I believed in the vision”, he added.

For the first four years, the school operated completely free of charge, providing vulnerable children with education when they had nowhere else to turn. “Most had nothing, but they had a place here,” he shared. To cover school expenses, Bernard had been using his savings, and later introduced a modest fee of 15 cedis ($1). This approach saw a decline in enrolment, but Bernard’s resolve never wavered. He continued to invest in growing St. Bernard’s Sass Academy, which led him to Opportunity International EduFinance programs.

In 2025, St. Bernard’s Sass Academy joined Opportunity International EduFinance’s EduQuality program, a three-year initiative designed to strengthen low-fee private schools through leadership training, operational improvement, and peer collaboration.

"Coming from journalism, I had no formal training in education," Bernard admits. “This program opened my eyes.” After his first seminar, he immediately gathered his teachers to assess their school’s performance. “We realized we were at a Grade 1 level in teaching quality. It was a wake-up call.”

With new tools and guidance, Bernard is now focused on improving teaching quality, strengthening school culture, and addressing critical infrastructure needs. Through EduFinance’s partnerships with financial institutions, schools like his can access School Improvement Loans to invest in safer, more welcoming learning environments.

Despite the obstacles, Bernard remains hopeful. “In three years, I want this to be a model school—one others look up to.” His vision is no longer just about classrooms and textbooks. It’s about building futures, nurturing communities, and ensuring no child is left behind.