By B. Linus Flomo
One of the oldest government-run institutions in Margibi County, the Bondiway Public School, is facing some serious challenges with damaged infrastructure and leaking roof, as the rain has begun to disrupt classes with the start of the rainy season.
The school is a government-owned junior high institution that has a population of at least 250 students. It is the only public school that is trying to meet the educational needs of students from several towns and villages in the area it is situated.
During a visit on the campus, photos were captured of some of the problems, like classrooms that are experiencing the leakage.
“The elementary section of our school will not have classes whenever it rains,” an assigned teacher, Jenneh Kanneh, informed journalists.
She expressed uncertainty as the rainy season is set to start.
“During the rainy season last school year, the elementary classes were always disrupted, or the students did not come to school due to flooding in the classrooms. It was a pity to watch us bid water off the classrooms severally, before continuing the lessons during rain that caught us in classes,” Kanneh stated.
The Bondiway Public School was founded on February 23, 1963. It is currently supervised by the Mamba Kaba Education District of the Margibi County School System.
Bondiway Town is located on the outskirts of Division 3, in Firestone Liberia, which hosts one of the world’s largest natural rubber plantations. The town also hosts a Magisterial Court and a Prison Compound. Bondiway has hundreds of residents, including nearby villages and towns in District 1, Margibi County, Liberia.
The District Education Officer, Andrew Kweanuan, confirmed the current plight of the school.
“This school is one of the oldest schools in the community. I think it has spent 10 years and most of the zincs had rot and the wind took off some of the roof on that side of the elementary section. Last academic year, the school was able to do some renovation work on the other annex,” DEO Kwaenuan said.
“There are four annexes on that campus; Firestone recently renovated an annex and the PTA has been doing well with renovation works from donations they get. It was a recent wind that took down some zinc from the building of Bondiway Public School. It is not unique to Bondiway Public School. At most of our schools, we have challenges,” The DEO said.
When asked for the way forward, Kwaenuan replied: “We will work with the principal to purchase some zinc for minor renovation while the Ministry of Education prepares to come in,” he concluded.
A source has hinted that the Minister of Education, Jarso Maley Jallah, will visit schools in Lower Margibi beginning May. It is not clear if Minister Jallah and her team will visit the Bondiway Public School.
It was also learned that there is shortage of sitting capacity for both the students and staff. A good portion of the available chairs were broken and need rapid repair.
