Public school teachers in the rural communities nationwide are crying daily due to the low monthly salary structure which they claim does not commensurate with their qualifications.
Instructors who are teaching in primary, junior and senior secondary schools in various districts in Nimba County have alarmed.
They told this paper that despite earning a degree in education which somehow qualified them as classroom teachers, their monthly salaries are low or do not match their standard.
They however stated that in spite of that, they will still remain committed to the profession they have chosen as their life time career in molding the minds of tomorrow’s people or future leaders.
Mr. Jonathan Yealue, Vice Principal for Instructions (VPI) at Karn High School in Karnplay of Electoral District #3, Nimba County, said that despite being a teacher as a college graduate from the University of Liberia and holder of diplomas or certificates from other teachers training institutions in the country, he and others’ monthly earnings are low.
He said he was teaching while schooling but completed in 2011 to date, but that he is still earning below the belt which does not commensurate with his level of qualification, while there are many more in such bracket.
“Karn or Karnplay High School is the only public secondary school in Karnplay City with huge enrolment of over 1,000 students with 23 instructors. Nearly every one of us are degree holders besides one or two persons with “C” or “B” Certificates in education,” he stated
“Despite our training, we are still earning poor or low salaries, hence the need to have same upgraded cannot be overemphasized,” Yealue said.
He indicated that because of the huge enrolment for almost 2 years now the school has not had a chemistry instructor, stating that those teaching such subjects are on ‘try and error’ method which does not augur well.
“We need physics, biology as well as chemistry instructors. There are others qualified in the above-mentioned subjects but don’t want to teach in the rural communities,” Yealue noted.
About volunteer teachers, he stated further that there are some of them including Peter G. Kruah, whose name has been deleted or removed from the payroll for years now for no reason up to present to have his name restored.
The situation is not only unique to Karnplay High School but other public schools including the Benjamin Toe Smith known as BT Smith Primary (Elementary) School with the enrolment of over 600 kids who are sitting on bare floor due to the lack of benches.
Madam Rebecca Yentee, Principal of the School told this paper that the school does not have instructional materials like blackboards, chairs, benches, desks, pieces of chalk, and dusters among others.
Compounding the situation at the school, she said that many of the teachers mainly females are volunteers and the need for them to be on payroll cannot be overemphasized which is indeed hampering the smooth learning atmosphere of the institution.
The same problem at Zontuo and Miah Public Schools in both Zontuo and Duowin Towns, as well as Zoe Luapa Public School in Zoe Luapa Town, all of Electoral District #7, Nimba County from teachers or instructors who were spoken to regarding educational matters was advanced.
At Zontuo Public School, Martha Tuazama, 54, and Vice Principal for Instructions told this paper that there are almost 500 students to 5 teachers of which 2 are government-paid while 3 are volunteers.
She stated that the school building or structure lacks doors and windows while the classrooms are without benches, chairs, desks, dusters and blackboards for the almost 8 classrooms, writes Throble Suah.
