By Solomon T. Gaye Sr.
The Liberia National Police over the weekend jailed four teachers in Ganta, Nimba County for allegedly taking 58 students on a field trip and leaving them vulnerable in the street of Monrovia, Montserrado County.
According to some residents of Ganta, a representative from the Ministry of Gender who travelled with the students back to Nimba blamed it on teachers of the D. Baryoo Memorial Community School in Grace Town in Tappita, lower Nimba County.
According to Madam Kargay Gono who later contacted the LNP and the Ministry of Education on the matter, the Minister of Education provided US$ 700 to cater to the welfare of the students and to also enable them go back home in Nimba County after the field trip.
Instead, she alleged that it was Senator Prince Yormie Johnson and other members of the legislative caucus who helped to transport the students back home in order to reunite them with their families.
Police in Ganta confirmed the arrest of Amos Cooper, principal; James Grupee, Melvin Sonkarlay and Archie Grupee, the teachers who allegedly collected LD 3, 000 from each of the students as contributions for the field trip and said that the cash collected was not used for the intended purpose.
The LNP told this paper that preliminary investigations conducted revealed that the kids were abandoned by their instructors in Monrovia and that they had to practically go begging around for food before coming into contact with the Ministry of Gender in Monrovia.
The police told this paper that the four teachers were in its custody pending investigations but were later bailed for by the County Education Officer, Moses Dologbay and the Gompa Mayor, Amos Suah with a promise to have them brought back when needed.
During our normal routine at the police, all 58 students were seen getting on a commercial bus for Graice under the watchful eyes of representatives of the police, Gender and Education assigned in Nimba County.
When this paper contacted CEO Dologbaye about the outcome of the case, he remained tight-lipped. Investigations continue.
