Monrovia – Two school-aged children from the Thumbs Up Community in Caldwell, Montserrado County, who are currently out of school, have made a passionate appeal to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for assistance in continuing their education.
By Augustus Bortue
Grantess Zawolo and Benjamin Tugbeh, both 12 years old, told FrontPageAfrica over the weekend that they are unable to attend school this academic year because their families cannot afford to pay their fees.
Zawolo, a second-grade student, shared her plight in an emotional interview, stating that both her parents are unemployed, making life extremely difficult for them.
“Since the beginning of this year, my parents have tried their best to get me enrolled in school, but it has not been possible. Even finding food to eat is hard. There are times we go to bed hungry. That’s why I’m appealing to our President to help me go back to school,” she said.
Zawolo explained that her family’s situation worsened after her father lost his sight and her mother had to resign from her teaching job to care for him.
“When my parents were working, I was always in school and had enough to eat. But now, we’re living at the mercy of kind neighbors,” she added.
For his part, Benjamin Tugbeh said he was abandoned by his parents at the age of eight and has since been living with a neighbor in the Thumbs Up Community.
“Since I moved in with my neighbor, I haven’t been able to go back to school. They’ve tried, but they can’t afford it. The only help they can give me is food,” Tugbeh said.
Like Zawolo, he also appealed to President Boakai to intervene so he can return to school.
The two children expressed hope that the President would respond to their appeal, noting that they have no one else to turn to for support.
Their stories reflect the broader challenges facing many school-aged children across Liberia who remain out of school due to economic hardship and limited access to educational opportunities.
