No More Student Parades: Gov’t Issues Nationwide Ban

MONROVIA, LIBERIA The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the Liberia National Police, has declared the immediate and uncompromising enforcement of a nationwide ban on all school-related street parades linked to Gala Day, graduation, and WASSCE celebrations.

                                           By: Abraham Sylvester Panto

The decision signaled a major crackdown on the culture of uncontrolled celebratory street activity that has increasingly threatened national peace and imposed risk among students.

According to authorities, the directive applies uniformly across all 15 counties and serve as a binding operational measure now backed by police deployment, legal enforcement, and administrative oversight, all structured to eliminate the rising trend of chaotic student mobilizations, many of which have resulted in public injuries, destruction of property, traffic disruption, and alarming disregard for lawful conduct.

Referencing the joint statement issued by both entities on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, the structural framework under which such activities can occur has been decisively redefined to exclude spontaneous or unauthorized street processions, with institutionalized venues such as school campuses, municipal halls, open fields, and local stadiums being designated as the only legally acceptable zones for such commemorative events, thereby aligning festivity with accountability, structure, and public interest.

The enforcement policy derives legal backing from Article 15 of the Constitution of Liberia, which safeguards public order, as well as Sections 17.3 and 17.4 of the Penal Law that criminalize incitement and disorderly conduct.

With immediate effect, the Liberia National Police has commenced operational planning to deploy monitoring units across counties and school zones, with instructions to disband, arrest, and charge any individuals or institutions found in violation of the new regulation.

While no institution has yet been publicly sanctioned under the new policy, the Ministry has confirmed that intelligence units have identified multiple schools preparing for off-campus student parades, prompting the urgent release of this joint communiqué to preempt what authorities describe as a "preventable surge in disorder and exposure of children to vehicular and social harm".

In a firm tone, the Ministry reiterated that noncompliance will not be met with warnings or delayed responses, as a zero-tolerance posture has been adopted toward reckless celebratory behaviors.

To enforce transparency and prevent selective enforcement, the Ministry of Education has pledged to publish periodic compliance bulletins and incident reports, cataloging institutional violations and police responses, in a move expected to enhance deterrence and uphold a clear standard for all schools regardless of size, location, or public status.

With this development, the Liberian government has reaffirmed its resolve to move student celebrations away from unregulated fanfare toward structured recognition ceremonies, restoring dignity, safety, and discipline.