Amanda Goes to School: The True Cost of a Free Education
When a relative first mentioned a scholarship for underprivileged children from WeShare Initiatives, we immediately thought of a pretty little girl in our village, Amanda. This quiet, watchful seven-year-old had a silent struggle. A severe case of untreated malaria when she was a baby had tragically stolen her ability to speak.
Living in a rural area of Imo State with semi-literate parents who were ill-equipped to advocate for her, Amanda faced a double hardship. The stigma surrounding disability meant her parents insisted she attend a regular school, one completely unprepared to teach a mute child. At seven, she could not communicate in sign language. She relied on gestures and body language, which made her reasoning and learning progress slower than her peers.
When we learned about the WeShare Initiatives scholarship, we thought we had found her lifeline. We were right, but we had no idea of the hurdles that lay ahead.
The journey began in June 2025 when this relative came across a tweet from Alex Onyia announcing a scholarship programme through his NGO, Educare’s WeShare Initiatives. Through some research, we identified what seemed like the perfect placement: the Special Education Centre in Orlu, specifically the School for the Deaf and Mentally Challenged. It was close enough for her parents to visit easily, and we believed it would give Amanda the specialised care she needed.
Then came the confusion, a familiar story for families navigating bureaucracy without resources. Amanda’s mother, due to limited literacy, mistakenly reported the school’s fees as ₦250,000. We promptly relayed this to WeShare, only to be stopped in our tracks. The school proprietor clarified that tuition was free, sponsored by the Imo State Government. Parents were only responsible for provisions and boarding.
That relief was short-lived. WeShare required the school’s account details by September 8, 2025; however, the school was unable to accept funds directly, as every payment had to be processed through the Ministry of Education. Then, as if that wasn’t enough, we learned Amanda couldn’t even be admitted without approval from the Special Education Unit of the Ministry.
After a desperate call and a heartfelt WhatsApp plea, WeShare graciously granted us a three-day extension. We now had just 72 hours to:
- Present Amanda for a physical assessment at the school.
- Complete her registration with the Imo State Ministry of Education’s Special Education Unit.
- Return the signed forms to the school.
We sent a caretaker to accompany Amanda and her mother, along with ₦50,000 for transport and contingencies. That amount, we thought, would be enough. It wasn’t. The costs quickly escalated:
The most heart-wrenching moment came when Amanda’s mother, exhausted and distressed, had to pay an extra ₦5,000, on top of the initial ₦5,000, to persuade an absent doctor to sign her daughter’s medical certificate. Our fear at the start was financial; our new reality was a battle against indifference and inefficiency.
Despite everything, we managed to secure all required documents and informed WeShare of our progress by September 12th. Since the school couldn’t provide an account number, we nominated one of Amanda’s aunties as her guardian and the recipient of the scholarship funds. We estimated the total cost of Amanda’s provisions and boarding at ₦400,000 and sent the details to WeShare.
Soon after, WeShare had Amanda’s auntie added to a WhatsApp group for parents and guardians of the beneficiaries. To ensure Amanda would be ready to start immediately once the fund became available, we sent money to her mother to buy sandals, have uniforms sewn, and purchase a few essential items not included in the school list while waiting for the disbursement.
On September 23rd, Amanda’s auntie received a credit alert of ₦320,000 from WeShare Initiatives. Without delay, she traveled to Onitsha Main Market, purchased every item on the school’s list, and on September 25th, chartered a bus to Orlu to meet Amanda’s mother and deliver both the child and her school supplies to the Special Education Centre, Orlu.
At the school, the teachers determined that Amanda should start over in Nursery rather than continue in Primary 4, the class she had been in at her previous school. It was a difficult decision, but a necessary one. She needed to build her communication foundation before advancing academically.
Today, Amanda is finally enrolled in a school designed to support her. She has a new environment, new teachers, and, most importantly, a renewed chance at learning and belonging. We are profoundly grateful to WeShare Initiatives for their generosity and to the teachers who dedicate themselves daily to these children’s futures.
Yet amid this joy, the photos her auntie shared revealed a painful truth. The Special Education Centre, Orlu, which was a school built for hope, now stands in disrepair. The hostels, classrooms, dining area, and toilets are in dire need of renovation. In addition, Amanda still needs daily support because the school’s food is poor, insufficient for a growing child, and lacking in nourishment. The teachers have even advised that we send additional food items to support her well-being.
To the Imo State Government: this school is your responsibility. Free education is noble in principle, but the reality on the ground is failing the children who need it most. These students, each battling their own limitations, deserve safe hostels, clean toilets, and classrooms that inspire, not discourage.
The journey to enroll Amanda cost ₦164,000 in administrative fees, transport, and even a “bribe”, just to access a supposedly free education. But that amount is nothing compared to the investment needed to restore dignity to this institution.
Please, intervene and give these children a fair chance to learn, grow, and dream.
If you would love to support Amanda or help improve the meals provided to students at the school, please send a message or reach out to oadachukwu@gmail.com
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