Staff Crisis: Government-owned School in Bomi on Brink of System Collapse

KLAY DISTRICT, BOMI COUNTY: Concerns are rising over the lack of staff at the government of Liberia-owned Willie H. Kimbah Elementary School in Mana Clan, Klay District, Bomi County

The school, established in 2012, is said to be operating with only one staff member, serving as both Principal and Classroom Teacher.

The school's principal, Morris Sirleaf, told journalists in an interview that the situation has persisted since the establishment of the institution.

According to him, he is overwhelmed being the only staff member at the Willie H. Kimbah Elementary Public School, which has a population of over 60 students.

Sirleaf lamented that the lack of staff is undermining effective learning at the government-owned institution, which runs from Kindergarten to 6th Grade.

"Since the establishment of the school in 2021, I am the only teacher there. I am the one teaching all of the subjects. This is a recognized school. It is not this school alone, but many schools here face the same problem. The lack of staff is the main problem we face", Sirleaf stated.

The Willie H. Kimbah Elementary Public School Principal explained that there have been a series of communications filed to the county authority and the Ministry of Health but to no avail.

Morris Sirleaf said if not addressed, the situation has the propensity to paralyze the operation of the school. He emphasized that education in the rural parts of the country must be given equal attention to that of the Urban area.

Sirleaf however urged national government to take urgent steps to address the long-standing staff crisis at the institution, stating that doing so will improve the learning and build a solid foundation of pupils.

"I have written complaints and the Ministry of Education is aware of the situation, including representatives and senators of Bomi County".

"There has been no intervention, and this is seriously affecting learning at the institution. I am asking the government to assign teachers to the school", Principal Morris Sirleaf asserted.

As concerns heighten, residents including educators and advocates across the county say the situation risks plunging the school to shut down and crippling education in Bomi County.