As the need to accommodate volunteer teachers in public high schools remains a major call, Montserrado County Electoral District #1 Representative Rugie Yatu Barrie has provided support in cash and kind to over 200 volunteer teachers in her district.
Blamo N. Toe, contributing writer
Despite the Liberian government’s efforts to gradually place all committed and dedicated volunteer teachers on the national payroll, gaps remain, with many classroom teachers at various public high schools still teaching without pay.
Due to this demotivating factor hampering the country’s education sector, some citizens committed to improving education quality have been making contributions to several volunteer teachers.
On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, just two days before Liberia’s 177th Independence Day, Representative Barry toured her constituency and presented bags of rice and cash to 200 volunteer teachers across the electoral district.
According to the lawmaker, this gesture was her way of acknowledging the countless efforts of those teachers and sharing a little with them ahead of Independence Day.
“Without you, our dear teachers, our kids would have no reason to go to school to prepare themselves for the future. Imagine you’re volunteering your services to the nation through the classroom; I don’t want to imagine the exceptional time and energy y’all would put in if you’re placed on the payroll,” Representative Barry said.
The lawmaker further lauded the teachers for their sacrifices over the years in building the human capacity of school-going kids in the district on a voluntary basis.
At the same time, Representative Barry pledged to work with the Ministry of Education to have the over 200 volunteer teachers placed on the government’s payroll before the end of fiscal year 2024.
“You don’t have to explain to me in detail the tough times you go through. You have your families and others who depend on you because they see you as a working man or woman, and this is why I am going to advocate on your behalf to the Ministry of Education to include you on the national payroll before this year ends,” the lawmaker added.
Meanwhile, the volunteer teachers, upon receiving the items, thanked Representative Barry for the kind gesture and promised to continue their service to the country professionally despite the many challenges.
“Teaching in the rural areas as we are doing is very difficult. The working environment is discouraging, poor learning environment for the students, no easy access to the internet, and worst of all, we’re volunteering without a definite time to get on the government payroll,” noted James Mulbah, one of the volunteer teachers.
The teachers expressed hope that the Ministry of Education would consider placing their names on the government’s payroll through the advocacy of Representative Barry, turning their dream into reality.
