War at Blind School

By Elkass I.L. Sannoh

Idrissa J. Koroma handing over the items to the Head Teacher of the Blind School, Mr. Albert J. Sandy

There has been an unstoppable unrest at the Milton Margai School for the Blind, over what has been described by most of the past old students as dissatisfaction over the Head Mastership of the school.

Addressing cross section of the past pupils at 17 Circular Road in Freetown yesterday, the Executive Director of Vision for the Blind, Mr. Jonathan Conteh, said that he was not pleased with the present situation of the school under the leadership of the acting Head Master, Mr. Alfred Sandy.

He explained that the Milton Margai School for the Blind comprises the primary, secondary and tertiary sections which are meant to give education for blind children.

 He also explained that each of these sections is headed by an Integration Officer who is answerable to the Head Master.

He recounted that the school has depreciated since 2006 when the present acting Head Master took over from the past Head Master, Mr. Samuel Campbell.

“We demand that Mr. Alfred Sandy must explain why the school is deteriorating so fast or he resign from his position immediately,” Mr. Conteh stressed.

In an exclusive interview with a past pupil of the school, Mr. Sallu Turay, he told AYV that this crisis started in March 2008 when he led a demonstration to State House to explain their grievances to President Ernest Bai Koroma.

He disclose that they were assured by President Ernest Bai Koroma that an immediate investigation would be instituted into their complaints, but that unfortunately, they did not hear anymore from either the President or any Minster.

Mr. Turay further explained that they later learned that the Education Minister, Dr. Minkailu Bah, who was to set up the investigating committee delegated the responsibility to his Deputy, Dr. Sandy Nyallay who he said did a very bad job of the issue.

“II must confess that the investigation team was not credible because they later compromised their findings,” he noted.

Mr. Turay further explained that the school does not have a board of trustees and that the person who claims to be the chairman of a ghost board died recently.

He said they were calling on Government to reconstitute a board to oversee the school’s activities.

He also called on Government to look into the allegations levied against the acting Head Master, Mr. Alfred Sandy that he five buses and a house at Thunder Hill in Kissy all properties of the school.

Mr. Turay pointed out that if these and other allegations are not redressed they will not rest until Mr. Alfred Sandy leaves the school.