The Milton Margai School for the Blind was founded in May 1956.

For the first seven years of its existence, the School had a temporary home in a rented house in College Road, Congo Cross, Freetown.

The one foundation teacher was Miss Wilhemina Johnson, who had a UK Certificate in Special Education, and was herself only partially sighted. The School had an initial roll of 3 pupils. Mr Samuel Campbell assumed office as teacher/headmaster in January 1959. He took leave to retire in January 2006 and Mr Albert Sandy, who had been Deputy Headmaster since 1989, was appointed Headmaster.

The steady growth attained by the School in the enrolment – from 3 pupils in 1956 to fourteen (ten boys and four girls) in 1959 – was a most substantial indicator of the need for the School in Sierra Leone. With fourteen fully boarding pupils, the restricted temporary school building was at full capacity. During Independence in 1961, an appeal was launched for funds and materials for a new school building. With funds from philanthropic organisations (in particular Arthur Guinness & Co., UK) and individuals overseas and locally and with the enthusiastic approval of the then Prime Minister, Sir Milton Margai, construction began on a permanent building for the School. Negotiations with the Government for land led to the allocation of ten acres of State land, which now provides the permanent site for the School on Wilkinson Road, Freetown.

On the 26th April 1962, in commemoration of the first Independence Anniversary of Sierra Leone, the Right Honourable Sir Milton Margai laid the foundation stone of the present permanent site on Wilkinson Road and the School was named as the Sir Milton Margai School for the Blind.

The original building was a single storey building with classrooms, offices, dormitories, dining hall, kitchen and storage rooms, all leading directly off corridors which form the four sides of a square.

The library and additional classrooms were added in 1974 and 1979 respectively. In 1982, another building was added as a gift from Germany. This two storey building contains large dormitories for the girls and boys and a staff annexe on each floor.

There are presently 88 pupils – 52 primary, 20 secondary, 1 vocational, 15 college/university. There are 7 teachers, 10 ancillary staff, 2 braillists, 1 secretary, the Matron, the Assistant Administrator, the Deputy Headteacher, and the Headmaster.

The School follows a normal Primary curriculum but with extra emphasis on Braille reading and writing and on Typing. We have various extra curricular activities, in particular singing – the Choir is renowned throughout Sierra Leone and even internationally. In August 2003, the 35 members of the School Choir and 5 staff toured and gave concerts throughout the United Kingdom. The Tour was a well publicised, tremendous success, with the final concert performed in the prestigious Westminster Abbey in London.

The School went through the turmoil of Sierra Leone’s rebel war. It was evacuated during the coup in 1997 and was affected by shelling in 1999. A number of pupils were blinded by the rebels and many others were affected through loss of family members.

The School has the most basic of facilities, but strives hard and does achieve high academic standards. Pupils battle daily with the difficulties they face living in a culture that does not always value the disabled, and yet many of those who have left the School have gone on to higher education. The atmosphere at the School is a very happy family one as the staff endeavour to give the blind pupils a normal school and home environment. They are provided with a good education and the welfare and mobility skills that will equip them for life.