Public school teachers across Monrovia and its environs under the banner of the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers Association (MCSS-TA) are embarking on a strike action until their four-count demands are met by the system.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Members of the Association say their demands have been overdue without tangible response from the authorities of MCSS headed by Dr. Augurie E. Stevens.
The Four-count Demand
In count one of their demands, the Monrovia-based public-school teachers are calling on the Ministry of Education to immediately replace missing instructional staff and place all active volunteer teachers onto the official government payroll.
They are also demanding salary upgrades, wanting compensation structures to be adjusted to reflect higher academic qualifications earned by teachers, with payments processed prior to verification delays.
Furthermore, MCSS-TA is craving payroll reinstatement and welfare, urging the Civil Service Agency (CSA) and the Ministry of Education to unconditionally reinstate omitted employees, increase salaries for all educators and support personnel – including janitors, security officers, and administrative staff—and provide adequate operational funding for schools.
The Teachers Association, at the same time, called for leadership accountability, with a call on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to immediately dismiss the MCSS Superintendent, Dr. Augurie E. Stevens, and introduce structural reforms to restore operational oversight.
‘Don’t Be Deterred’
As they remained steadfast with a united front, the Teachers Association held a mass meeting on Wednesday morning, October 7, 2026, at the Williams V.S. Tubman High School with the President of the Association, Mr. Augustine N. Nyormui, re-echoing the position of the group to each member.
At the well-attended meeting, President Nyormui called on members to remain unbending and stick to the mandate.
“We caused the problems in the past because we have not been rising against them. But from today, the mandate is simple: please, let’s stick to the go slow. Don’t be intimidated, don’t be deterred. President Boakai is a human being, and he will listen to us,” Nyormui ordered.
“Our main goal is that we are not teaching now. Go and sit down until you hear from us. You can go to your school of assignment and just sign in the log, but don’t teach.”
Action Starts Now
Asked by a member, Madam Rebecca Krubo Korward, an instructor at A. Glen Tubman Memorial as to when the action begins and ends, he responded: “This takes effect now and no one should betray us. Don’t be afraid; no one will dismiss you. Go and sign in daily and sit down. The go slow will continue as long as government does not attend to our demand.”
No Political Undertone
Nyormui told members that the entire process is germane and ill-political, as such, it should not be misconstrued by the public.
“I am a born Liberty Party child, a party that is collaborating with this government, but this is not about party issue; it’s void of politics. Let’s stick together. This is not about political issue.”
Nyormui also clarified that this is not in any way an attempt to thwart the pending electoral process of the Association slated for December, announcing that he would not, in fact, re-contest the position.
“Don’t let no one lie to you that we are doing this to stall the pending electoral process. Election will hold, and it will hold on the date announced. In the first place, I am stepping down and will not contest. So, this is not about delaying so that issue won’t be held. Anyone saying this is just another lazy propaganda,” he, among other things, added amid cheers in the Tubman High Cafeteria meeting hall.
MCSS Rejects Report of Widespread School Closures, But Acknowledges Teachers’ Go-Slow
When contacted, authorities of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) rejected claims that 20 of its 26 schools have been shut down as a result of a go-slow action by teachers.
In an exclusive interview with this paper while the meeting of the Teachers Association was ongoing, MCSS Communications Director Samuel Nyenuh explained that several schools have not yet fully resumed regular academic activities, and that they are shut down.
He said the reason is based on the fact that there are ongoing renovation works at some of the institutions, while at the same time student orientation is ongoing this week.
“We don’t have 20 out of 26 schools that are shut down as a result of the MCSS Teachers Association’s announced go-slow action. This is not true,” Nyenuh told this writer.
He named the institutions that are carrying renovations as G. W. Gibson High School, Botswein Junior and Senior High School, and Matilda Newport Junior and Senior High School.
This, he indicated, is being implemented by the MCSS administration in collaboration with the Ministries of Public Works and Finance and Development Planning.
Teachers’ Go-Slow Confirmed
In what stemmed out to be a sharp contradiction, the MCSS official acknowledged that teachers have raised concerns and that the leadership of the teachers’ association has confirmed a go-slow action.
He stated that the MCSS’ leadership is aware of the teachers’ grievances and is working to address them.
He, however, urged teachers to return to their classrooms while the issues are being resolved through the appropriate government channels.
“We don’t want to go that route. We are expecting our teachers in the various classrooms,” he further referring to possible disciplinary measures under the Civil Service Standing Orders.
Nyenuh narrated that MCSS teachers, as civil servants, are guided by the Civil Service Standing Orders, which provide procedures for addressing neglect of duty.
Salary Adjustments Remain a Major Concern
Among the major concerns raised by teachers is salary adjustment based on academic qualifications.
Nyenuh noted that the MCSS administration is fully aware of the issue, including concerns from teachers who have obtained additional qualifications but continue to receive salaries based on their previous credentials.
But maintained that the administration is working with the relevant government institutions to address the matter.
The MCSS Communications Director referenced provisions of the Education Reform Act of 2011, which he interpreted as providing for teachers to be compensated in accordance with their qualifications.
He acknowledged that teachers who were initially employed with lower-level qualifications may have subsequently obtained university degrees or master’s degrees without receiving corresponding salary adjustments.
Despite the acknowledgement, Nyenuh stated that resolving the issue requires government funding and must be reflected in the national budget.
Communications Chief Defends Superintendent
Accordingly, Director Nyenuh defended his boss, Dr. Augurie E. Stevens, saying she inherited several longstanding challenges when she assumed office in July 2025.
“This would be very unrealistic to expect the superintendent to resolve all of the school system’s problems within approximately one year and two months. One of the challenges she inherited was a large number of volunteer workers, and this is being addressed step by step.”
“More than 600 volunteers were initially identified, but a reverification exercise involving the Civil Service Agency, the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and other relevant institutions reduced the number to 459. Government resources had to be identified to accommodate the volunteers, which affected the availability of funding for other salary-related adjustments.”
2027 Budget Expected to Address Salary Concerns
In the pending budget, Nyenuh is hopeful for a better outcome as he revealed that MCSS has been lobbying the government for funding to address salary adjustments based on teachers’ qualifications.
He emphasized that MCSS is not an income-generating institution and cannot independently increase salaries unless it is done by the central government.
“General salary increases come from the national government based on available resources. MCSS depends on the national government for salary adjustments for its employees.”
Call For Teachers to Return To Classrooms
Meanwhile, MCSS through its communications chief has sounded a passionate appeal for teachers to resume teaching while the government works through the budgetary process.
“The way forward is for our teachers to be in the classroom. Teachers belong in the classroom.”
Admitting that while the teachers have legitimate concerns about compensation, Nyenuh added that they also have a responsibility to perform their duties.
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