By Solomon T. Gaye
The principal of Samuel B. Cooper Elementary and Junior High School, David B. Kpannah, says the employment of volunteer teachers, coupled with the lack of trained teachers, is hampering the smooth running of public schools in Baila Town, Bong County.
According to the principal, the school has an enrollment of 473 students, eight volunteer teachers, and five government paid teachers, with six support staff.
“Volunteer teachers are paid by the Parent Teachers Association (PTA) because they are not paid along with the school principal,” Kpannah disclosed.
“We are in need of trained government teachers in this school that will teach the students in line with MOE’s teaching policy,” the principal appealed
“The PTA pays L$50,000 every month as salary towards volunteerism to keep the school running,” Kpannah lamented.
Speaking on the school campus, Principal Kpannah revealed that the deplorable condition of the school building, and lack of teachers, among other things, are contributing to the low enrollment in the school.
Samuel B. Cooper Elementary and Junior High School is situated at St. John River that is shared by Nimba and Bong Counties in Baila Town, Bong County.
The school is catering to thousands of school-going children in Nimba, Bong, in towns along the St. John River belt.
During a normal routine at the school over the weekend, many of the students were out playing football and kick ball.
When this paper contacted the DEO office in Palala Town, the District Education Office was closed.
