By Bill W. Cooper
As the new school year approaches, several parents and students are said to be expressing outrage over the sudden increase in all fee at some schools including graduation fees and tuition
Investigation done by the Inquirer Newspaper established that among some schools that have drastically increased graduation fees are the Best Brains Academy, Love International High School, and the John Lewis Morris United Methodist Schools.
Others are the Paynesville English and Islamic High School, Amos T. Taybior Institute, St. Mathew United Methodist High School and the Grace Assembly of God High School among others, augmenting their graduation fees to over US$200 maximum.
However, the sudden hike in both school and graduation fees comes at a time when many families are already struggling to make ends meet due to the economic challenges facing the country.
Recently, the government through the Ministry of Education (MOE) announced that no school should increase their school fees for the upcoming academic year, especially without any improvement or upgrading of the learning facility.
The MOE also set a fixed graduation fees for both public and private schools, which is L$5,000 per student attending public schools and US$100 per student attending private schools.
The Ministry, at the same time, warned that graduation fees for both public and private schools are to be collected only after the official WASSCE results are released by WEAC Liberia.
The MOE announced that students must pass five subjects including Mathematics and English to qualify him/her for participation in his/her school pending graduation ceremony.
But the latest increase in fees by some schools’ administrators including government schools have sparked widespread complaints from parents and students across Monrovia and its environs.
These angry parents and students are calling on the government to prevail on schools’ administrators to make education more accessible and affordable, rather than burdening families with additional costs.
According to some of the aggrieved parents and self-contained students, they are already struggle to afford basic necessities and the addition of financial strain of hike in fees could cause them further hardship.
“I don’t know how we are going to afford these fees because I barely have enough money to feed my children, let alone pay for their education. This increase in fees is unfair and unjust,” a mother of two, narrated.
A graduating student also lamented, “I have worked so hard to get to this point, and now I may not be able to graduate because of these fees and it is not fair that we are being punished for wanting to further our education.”
They are calling on the government to find ways to make education more affordable for all students, rather than allowing various schools administrators to place additional financial burdens on families and struggling students.
The Ministry of Education reiterates that schools found in violation of these guidelines will face stringent penalties.
The Ministry outlined a range of repercussions, from fines to the revocation of operational permits or even the closure of institutions.
Minister of Education, Dr. Jarso M. Jallah, spoke againt the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism’s regular press briefing yesterdy, noting that the updates include the enforcement of graduation fees for public, private, or faith-based schools, registration dates, approved annual initiatives, and new measures to improve educational outcomes.
She reemphasizedthat for public or government schools, the graduation fee has been capped at LD$5,000. In private or faith-based schools, the fee should not exceed US$100 and that these measures aim to prevent excessive charges and ensure that graduation remains accessible to all students, regardless of their financial background.
“The Ministry is committed to making education affordable for all citizens,” stated Minister Jallah. “By regulating graduation fees, we aim to remove financial barriers and ensure that every student has the opportunity to celebrate their academic achievements without undue burden on their families.”
