By Precious D. Freeman
Education Minister Jarso Marley Jallah has issued a stern warning following the recent protest by students of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS), stating that the government will not tolerate individuals using students to advance their agenda.
“Let me send this strong warning to those who will use our students to fight their battles,” Jallah declared. “We are not going to take this sitting down because our children need to be in the classroom. They need to be educated. We owe them that much.”
Speaking as the Vice Chair of the MCSS Board, Jallah disclosed that an emergency board meeting was held to address concerns surrounding the protest.
The board discovered that students had been influenced to protest due to the absence of teachers in the classroom. However, it remains unclear whether the absent teachers were paid staff under the MCSS payroll or volunteer teachers.
“If you access the budget for MCSS, $4.2 million is allocated to its operations, and $3.9 million of that goes directly to salaries, “Jallah noted. “There should be no reason for teachers not to be in the classroom. We are investigating this closely.”
Minister Jallah confirmed that she had spoken with the Inspector General and the Superintendent to ensure that those responsible for influencing the students’ protest would be held accountable. “We are not going to rest until we find the culprits that have our children in the streets. We owe it to them,” she said.
Addressing concerns over unpaid salaries, Jallah clarified that those supposed to receive salaries are doing so. “If there are incidents where someone has not received their salary, please notify the administration, and we will address it properly,” she assured.
On infrastructure issues, Jallah acknowledged the complex challenges the education sector faces.
Following a nationwide tour, she directed the Department of Planning to assess schools’ infrastructural needs.
“We have completed that assessment and identified schools across the country that will receive civil works and renovations in stages,” she stated. “We have tracking mechanisms in place to ensure funds allocated for renovations are used effectively.”
Jallah also emphasized the importance of curriculum reform, particularly in civics and problem-based learning. “Our students need to understand the Constitution and learn to think critically to solve complex challenges. A curriculum review is necessary, and we plan to begin that process this year,” she affirmed.
The Education Minister reiterated her commitment to improving the quality of education and infrastructure, particularly in rural areas that have often been neglected.
“We have teams in the field constantly monitoring progress. The Liberian people deserve quality education, and we are determined to deliver it,” she concluded.
