GANTA, Nimba County – Over twenty educational stakeholders in Nimba County have concluded a day-long gathering in Ganta, Nimba County. The gathering brought together educational stakeholders representing various groups and structures in Nimba County, including, but not limited to, the Nimba County Student Union, the Principal Association of the Nimba County school system, the Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs) of the educational districts of Nimba County, the Nimba County School Board, the District Education Officers (DEOs), and the County Education Office (CEO). The meeting was intended for them to plan how to raise awareness and petition their lawmakers for increased budget allocation for education in the national budget for 2024.
By Franklin Doloquee/Nimba County
During the gathering, the educational stakeholders focused on the Education Reform Acts of 2011 and the challenges facing the 704 schools in the county.
Addressing journalists after the gathering, the head of the Nimba County School Board, Mr. Luogan Patrick Lah, outlined the challenges facing the county. He mentioned the increase in the number of volunteer teachers, the lack of security personnel at various government facilities, students not receiving quality education due to the lack of adequate educational institutional services such as computer labs, libraries, science labs, textbooks, and poor learning environments. Dilapidated buildings are being used for classes with limited and damaged chairs, and there is a lack of adequate latrines in most school facilities in the county. He also cited inconsistent and inadequate distribution of school supplies, irregular and inefficient payment of teacher salaries, the lack of accurate teacher data, limited investment in new facilities, and insufficient community involvement in school improvement, among other challenges.
According to him, any nation that doesn’t invest in education is at risk of decline, but a nation that supports education is referred to as a developing nation. Therefore, it is essential for Liberia to invest more in education.
“Liberia is one of the oldest African countries; we need to increase the national budget for the Ministry of Education. This will help improve the education system in the country,” he added.
For the County Education Officer, Mr. Moses Dologbay, the 704 schools in the county suffer from a lack of teachers, textbooks, and frustration, along with inadequate seating capacity for students, reading rooms, science labs, among others.
He explained that the lack of these facilities continues to affect the learning process in the county.
The Nimba County Education Officer (CEO), Dologbay, lamented that the involvement of lawmakers from the county in discussions to increase the national education budget would enable the sector to improve and provide quality education for the future leaders of the country.
Speaking at the event, the head of the Parent-Teacher Association County Coordinator, Joseph S. Messah, and Alvin G. Yadolo, who represented the Principal Association, both told reporters that in past years, schools used to receive some funding from the PTA through project fees, but this support has completely stopped.
According to them, this funding used to help the administration undertake various projects, but since it stopped, school administrations have been unable to move ahead with development activities.
The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) Nimba County coordinator, Abraham M. Alpha, and Allen Koleh, student representative, extended thanks to the Nimba County Educational Stakeholders for advocating for the welfare of future leaders.
They explained that students in the county lack qualified teachers, seating capacity, science labs, textbooks, and face poor learning environments, among other challenges.
Our Nimba County correspondent covering the event reported that the student community, alongside their parents, was pleased to hear from the Nimba County Educational Stakeholders, who gathered in large numbers to endorse support for the education sector of the country.
They referred to education as the greatest gift parents could give to their children.