By Emmanuel Mbowa
Freetown, 4th May 2026– For 70 years, the Milton Margai School for the Blind has depended on government subventions to keep its doors open and its students fed. But since January 2026, those funds have not arrived, leaving the institution struggling to survive on loans and credit.
“Throughout January, our children didn’t attend school, not until February, after the head teacher, Salieu Sesay, had secured loans,” explained Memunatu Turay, who teaches classes one and two.
The delayed funds, she said, are critical for paying auxiliary staff, fueling the school’s vehicle, and feeding the children in dormitories. “The school consumes a bag of rice within just two days. That is why our funds should be released on time,” she added.
Memunatu appealed to the government to prioritize the school not out of pity, but because its students are “drivers of change.” She urged that paperwork for subventions begin as early as September to ensure timely disbursement in January, preventing another shutdown like the one earlier this year.
She warned that delays risk undoing years of progress in reducing the number of visually impaired children forced to hawk on the streets for survival. “We wouldn’t want delayed subventions to lead us back to that path,” she said.
Head teacher Salieu Sesay stressed the need for alignment with modern teaching methods as technology advances. “If we must continue to contribute meaningfully to the development of this nation, we must not be left behind. We need innovative ways of teaching and learning, and we are seeking more support from government, organizations, and philanthropists,” he said.
With about 70 pupils currently residing in the dormitories, the school says it cannot continue relying on loans to run its administrative functions. The management is appealing for urgent release of funds to sustain operations and protect the welfare of its students.
Despite expressing gratitude for past government support, staff and administrators insist that timely disbursement is essential to ensure the school remains a beacon of hope for visually impaired children and a cornerstone of Sierra Leone’s Radical Inclusion initiative.
