By Precious D. Freeman
The Liberia National Police (LNP) has been criticized after using teargas to break up a student protest on Tuesday, as students from public schools took to the streets to demand that the government address the ongoing salary delays for their teachers.
The protest, which paralyzed traffic between the Capitol Building and the Executive Mansion, was fueled by growing frustration over the prolonged salary delays that have severely disrupted the academic calendar.
According to eyewitnesses, the scene turned chaotic when police deployed teargas, leaving students in visible distress and some appearing helpless as they struggled to breathe.
“We cannot learn if our teachers are not being paid. The government must take responsibility,” one protesting student said.
The student demonstration followed the announcement of a major go-slow action by the Monrovia Consolidated School System Teachers Association (MCSSTA), which vowed not to return to work until the government addresses their long-standing demands.
At a press conference last Thursday, MCSSTA President Augustine N. Nyormui said teachers have been left with no choice but to strike after repeated attempts to engage the government failed.
“We are constrained to take this action following countless engagements with the national government without any redress,” Nyormui said.
He accused the government of ignoring the plight of teachers, who he said are struggling to survive while government officials enjoy lavish lifestyles.
“It is unacceptable to see ministers and government officials earning huge salaries and driving luxurious cars while teachers, who are shaping the future of this country, left struggling,” Nyormui stated.
Nyormui criticized the government for allowing the Civil Service Agency (CSA) to classify MCSS teachers under a “redline” status, which he described as a “mockery” of the country’s educational system.
The MCSSTA is demanding that the government adjust monthly salaries of MCSS employees to reflect their academic qualifications, transition all volunteer workers to full-time employment, and increase budgetary support for MCSS operations.
The teachers are also calling for a salary increase in line with commitments made by President Joseph Boakai in his State of the Nation address and reaffirmed by Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.
Nyormui argued that while the problem may have been inherited from previous administrations, the Boakai government must act swiftly, given its campaign promises to prioritize education.
“We remain resolved and will stay home until our concerns are addressed,” Nyormui declared. “How can our children eat or go to school when we are hungry and not paid or supported as expected?”
The strike is expected to shut down more than 20 MCSS schools, affecting thousands of students, including those preparing for national and regional exams.
The Liberia National Students’ Union (LINSU) condemned the police’s handling of the protest, describing the use of teargas on students as excessive and unacceptable.
“The government’s continued failure to address these critical issues is an attack on the future of Liberia’s youth,” LINSU said in a statement.
LINSU accused the government of prioritizing corruption over education, arguing that while students sit in overcrowded and poorly maintained classrooms, public officials continue to misuse state resources.
The union praised the students for their courage in standing up for their right for better education and warned the government that continued neglect of the education sector could lead to further unrest.
As public pressure mounts, political and civil society leaders have called on the government to urgently address the grievances of both teachers and students.
The ongoing salary delays and the teachers’ strike have raised serious concerns about the future of Liberia’s already fragile educational system.
With tensions escalating, all eyes are now on the government to take swift action to prevent further disruption.
