Monrovia – Several students of the University of Liberia were arrested on Thursday by officers of the Liberian National Police during protest action on the grounds of the Capitol Building which led to the destruction of the main door into the building.
The protesting students stormed the grounds of the seat of the Legislature, vandalizing the entrance of the building in demands of answers to their petition filed about a month ago, calling on the legislature to halt tuition increment by the university administration.
Protesting students carried placards with anti-tuition increment slogans. The students made several failed attempts to enter some offices of lawmakers to draw their attention.
On two occasions, Representatives Byron Browne and Gabriel Smith both of Grand Bassa County made attempts to inquire from the students but the protesting students refused to speak to any the lawmakers.
It was only through intervention from officers of the Police support Unit of the Liberian National Police that the students were made to forcefully leave the grounds of the Capitol building.
“We want answers to our plight. This can’t be happening, our lawmakers must act. They must act against tuition increment at the University of Liberia,” the students chanted.
About a month ago, protesting students of the University of Liberia gathered at the entrance of the Legislature to protest against a proposal to increase tuition from $175 LD approximately US$2 to US$4.00
The students gathered at the Capitol Building to petition lawmakers to intervene in the University’s Board of Trustees’ decision to increase tuition and to also ask the lawmakers to increase the budgetary allotment to the University to $29 million United States Dollars.
Recently the President of the University of Liberia, Dr. Emmett Dennis, said the increment in tuition is the result of continual budget shortfall the university had faced over the years.
The students’ petition, amongst many things, called on the Government of Liberia to strive toward all sincere and honest efforts to adequately fund the University through the regular budgetary process to enable the University meet its growth and development agenda.
They also called on the National Legislature to ensure that the administration provides a good academic environment for students in a bid to provide quality tertiary education.
“That the National Legislature intervenes to reverse the current pronounced increment attempt by the Board of Trustees to status quo considering the current state of economy so as to enable underprivileged students continue their academic sojourn,” the petition stated.
Earlier in April, the acting chair of the University Of Liberia Board Of Trustees, Senator Jewel Howard-Taylor said the board met several times during the month of February, precisely on the 19, 24 and 26 to discuss the proposal to increase tuition at the institution before arriving at the decision.
The police issued a statement late Thursday indicating that six of the protestors were arrested and will be charged and sent to court.
Henry Karmo (0886522495) [email protected]