By Grace Q. Bryant
Representative Kerkula M. Kamara of District 14, Montserrado County, has written the plenary to invite the Minister of Education to provide clarity on the 500 teachers who were dismissed and retired in August 2020.
Rep. Kamara’s communication said the leadership of the National Teachers’ Association of Liberia informed him that about 500 teachers were forcefully dismissed and retired in August 2020 from the classroom and have not been replaced.
He furthered that the leadership also mentioned that the Government of Liberia has not been able to live up to its responsibility of providing retirement benefits for those teachers.
According to him, the retirement and dismissal of those teachers without replacement is causing a serious problem, like shortage of teachers, in most of our public schools across the country.
“I was also informed that some teachers are not being paid in line with their qualification, while other teachers, without the requisite credentials, are in classrooms teaching,” he noted
He disclosed, “I have been reliably told that even the Rural Teachers Training Institute (RTTI) isn’t active anymore.”
He stressed that these are few among the many concerns affecting the effectiveness of the educational system.
“I am bringing to the attention of plenary the need to launch an investigation into credible reports I have gathered from a meeting with the leadership of the National Teachers’ Association of Liberia,” Rep. Kamara emphasized.
He added, “I write to crave the indulgence of plenary to invite the Minister of Education to provide clarity on these concerns and update the 55th Legislature, House of Representatives on the plans of the Ministry to improve the quality of education for our children”
He expressed that the teachers continue to render tremendous services for the school system, humanity, and by extension, the future of our country.
Rep. Kamara’s communication was forwarded to the Committee on Education for consideration.
