Soltiamon School Fined L$350k For Inflicting Inhumane Corporal Punishment on Female Student

MONROVIA – The Ministry of Education has recommended the removal of Mr. Solomon Joah, Jr., Dean of Student Affairs at Soltiamon School System on 20^th Street, Sinkor, Monrovia from all instructional activities.

Mr. Joah was involved in the inhumane beating of a female 10^th grade student as a form of corporal punishment – an incident he has expressed regrets over.

However, the Ministry of Education in a statement said, “Despite series of awareness of the Regulations as reiterated in the Ministry’s 2018/2019 academic calendar banning “Corporal Punishment as beating, canning or any form of punishment that will cause physical and moral injury to a student, the administrator in question did not adhere.”

In addition to the recommendation for his removal from instructional activities, the Education Ministry has fined the school L$350,000 payable into Government revenue with the official revenue receipt submitted to the office of the Deputy Minister for Administration on or before July 5, 2019.

The Ministry also ordered that cost of medical treatment incurred by the parents of the victim be re-funded by the SCS’ Administration. The receipt of the refund is submitted to the office of the Deputy Minister for Administration as evidence that the refund has been made.

The school is further requested to submit its student handbook and teachers and administration handbook for approval by the Ministry.

“While the Ministry of Education highly appreciates the support of all private providers of education in Liberia, it also has zero-tolerance on violation of established regulations. The Ministry admonishes all education stakeholders to abide by the regulations,” the Ministry said in a statement.

The statement added: “The Ministry remains committed to the Scope and Application of the Act which covers the establishment, management and supervision of all school (Public and Private) and steadfast on the objectives of ensuring to promote and protect the concept of human rights for all students, both with respect to access and opportunity for quality education void of abuse. Sequel to the above and after the conduct of investigation by the relevant bureaus within the Ministry of Education, which indicated a rampant disregard of Ministry of Education policy by the SCS, the following have been derived and sanctioned by the Ministry of Education consistent with its mandate outlined by the Education Reform Act of 2011.”