New Six-Classroom School Brings Renewed Hope to Menthagba Village in Karene District

Some pupils walked nearly five miles daily in search of schooling, while others were forced to drop out entirely due to poverty, long distances, and poor learning environments challenges that continue to affect many rural communities across Sierra Leone.

That narrative shifted significantly on Friday, 15th May 2026, when Africa Global Logistics (AGL) and Freetown Terminal Limited (FTL) officially handed over a newly constructed six-classroom school building and staff office to the community, marking what residents described as a transformative moment for education in the area.

The newly commissioned facility, named the Freetown Terminal Limited Primary School, stands as a sharp contrast to the fragile structures that previously defined learning conditions in the village.

The commissioning ceremony attracted government officials, education stakeholders, traditional leaders, journalists, and residents, all gathered to witness a development many described as long overdue in a community where access to quality education has remained a persistent struggle.

An elderly resident reflected on the past conditions, recalling how education was repeatedly disrupted by weather.

“Sometimes rain would stop school completely. Children suffered to learn here,” the resident said during the event.

The project comes at a time when Sierra Leone’s education sector continues to face challenges, including overcrowded classrooms, insufficient rural infrastructure, teacher shortages, and inequalities between urban and remote communities.

Despite ongoing government efforts under the Free Quality School Education programme, education advocates warn that children in hard-to-reach areas remain highly vulnerable to school dropouts, child labour, and early marriage due to limited access to safe and functional learning spaces.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, AGL Sub-regional Managing Director, Capt. Fabjanko Kokan, recently crowned Komrabai Kawaleh, described the project as a long-term investment in human development and community transformation.

“Today, we are not just opening a building; we are building a future,” he said, urging residents to take ownership of the facility and ensure its sustainability for generations to come.

Freetown Terminal Limited General Manager, Maroun Abi-aad, also emphasized the importance of equitable access to education, stating that every child deserves a safe and supportive environment in which to learn and thrive.

For pupils in Menthagba, the impact of the new facility was immediate and emotional.

Dressed in school uniforms and standing proudly in front of their new classrooms, many children expressed excitement and renewed ambition for their future.

Pupil Umu Bangura described the school as “a dream come true,” saying the improved environment has inspired children to think beyond their village and aspire to careers in medicine, law, education, and leadership.

Paramount Chief Sheikh Abdulrahman Bangura-Kafoir described the project as life-changing, reflecting on how limited educational opportunities once shaped the community.

“This school will change lives,” he said, while pledging continued community support to ensure proper maintenance and use of the facility.

Observers noted that the project highlights the increasing role of private sector partnerships and community-driven initiatives in bridging educational gaps in underserved areas.

The initiative was spearheaded by media personality Stanley Bangura Jnr., whose efforts to support his ancestral community through education development have been widely praised by residents.

As children explored their new classrooms after the ceremony, parents and community members watched with cautious optimism, hopeful that the new facility will mark the beginning of a stronger educational foundation for future generations.

For a village once defined by mud structures and interrupted learning, the new school now stands as a symbol of transformation offering renewed hope that education can become a lasting pathway out of poverty for children in one of Sierra Leone’s remote communities.