By Moses J. Dawoe
-Maryland (freelance)
More than 150 teachers have issued a 72-hour ultimatum to shut down all government-run schools in Maryland County if the government failed to pay their salaries for three consecutive months.
The chairman of the affected teachers, Mr. Victor N. Dortue, disclosed that salaries for the affected teachers have been withheld since October 2024.
But local officials of the Ministry of Education have attributed the delay to a system error.
He explained that the Ministry of Education’s Maryland County Chapter Human Resources Department blamed the issue on a payroll error that excluded the teachers’ names from the civil service payroll.
Despite this explanation, Mr. Dortue emphasized that these teachers have been consistently receiving their salaries for more than a decade via the Ministry’s mobile money system.
He argued that the government’s recent transition to a banking system has caused unnecessary setbacks.
“Many of these teachers have faithfully served the government for years, and now their livelihoods are at risk,” Mr. Dortue said during a press conference on January 7, 2025, at the Pleebo High campus.
The teachers have written to various local stakeholders, including the MOE Maryland County Education Officer, County Superintendent, and District Education Officers (DEOs) in Karluway, Barrobo, Harper, and Pleebo Sodoken Districts, as well as the Maryland Labor Commissioner, seeking intervention. However, their efforts have yet to yield results.
In light of the unresolved matter, the leadership of the affected teachers has threatened to stage a peaceful “Go-Slow” protest, which could disrupt all public schools in Maryland County if their grievances are not addressed.
The Ministry of Education has reportedly advised the affected teachers to open bank accounts to receive their salaries.
However, Mr. Dortue noted that while the Ministry’s local office has communicated the issue to its headquarters in Monrovia, no definitive resolution has been provided.
The delay has plunged many teachers into severe financial hardship. Some students have been sent home due to unpaid school fees, and many teachers are struggling to afford basic necessities.
Mr. Dortue revealed that several landlords have issued eviction notices to teachers who are unable to meet up with their rental obligation, further compounding the crisis.
With the clock ticking, the teachers, their students, and the broader Maryland County community await decisive government action to resolve the matter and prevent further disruptions to the education system.
