School Registrar Vanishes with School Fees, Parents Refuse to Pay Again

Omega Community, Liberia: Tension flared on Monday at the Christian Leadership Training Academy, located behind Emmanuel Nuquaye’s store in the Omega community, as parents staged a protest over missing school fees.

                                       Alvinna B.Gbeingan

According to protesting parents, the school’s registrar allegedly absconded with all the institution’s funds. In response, school authorities are now asking parents to repay the fees, warning that students will not be allowed in class unless payments are made again.

But parents argue that they already paid, and it is not their fault the money was mismanaged.

“We were told not to pay school fees on campus and that all payments should go through the bank,” said one parent who preferred to remain anonymous. “But many parents were not given the school’s official handbook to confirm this policy.”

She added, “When some parents went to pay at the bank, the school told them there were no bank slips available. That’s when the registrar started collecting the money on campus, saying he would deposit it and return with receipts but he never did.”

As a result of the dispute, teachers have stopped teaching, and classes have come to a standstill.

“This protest has left about 75 percent of the students outside the classroom, missing important lessons and notes,” the parent continued. “The remaining 25 percent are staying home because of the ongoing protest.”

Despite the current chaos, some parents still expressed support for the institution.

“This is one of the best schools in the Omega community,” the parent acknowledged, “but this issue has been happening for two years now. Something needs to be done.”

The school, formerly known as Vision Trust Training Academy, changed its name to Christian Leadership Training Academy in recent years.

As of now, the Ministry of Education has not launched an official investigation into the incident. Parents are calling on the Ministry and other relevant authorities to intervene swiftly.

“This is a call to the Ministry of Education and all government institutions responsible for education to step in,” one protester urged. “Our children deserve better.”

The Christian Leadership Training Academy serves students from ABC (early childhood) to 12th grade.