KARPI-TA, Bong County — As school-going kids in Liberia prepare to enroll in the 2025/26 Academic Year this September 2025, students in Karpi-ta, Bong County Electoral District #1 are left in distress over the deteriorating condition of their self-built elementary school, which has been described as a “complete deathtrap.”
Parents in the community are expressing their concern regarding their children’s education, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention. The structure, constructed by Christ Salvation Ministry, following an evangelistic campaign in 2022, has significantly deteriorated, prompting fears that many students may not return to classes in the next academic year.
Pastor Emmanuel Tormen of Christ Salvation Ministry, which built the school using limited savings, highlighted the ministry’s original vision to transform youth habits in Karpi-ta and the surrounding areas through education. However, he noted that their mission is becoming increasingly challenging due to a lack of support and resources.
“The structure was built to assist the government in combating illiteracy, but the continuing dilapidation is complicating our efforts,” said Pastor Tormen. He acknowledged that while the Christian ministry constructed the facility, they are eager to collaborate with the government to ensure quality learning environments in Karpita.
The facility is plagued by severe structural issues, including multiple leakages in its roofing, and is lacking essential educational materials and recreational assets. Parents and students fear that the school, which is just two years old, is on the brink of collapse.
Karpi-ta is just one of many towns in Liberia where access to quality education remains a significant challenge. Communities across the country rely on fragile structures to facilitate learning, creating hazardous conditions for students.
As the start of the 2025/2026 academic year approaches, feelings of hopelessness pervade the minds of the residents. “We pray that the government helps us. We are tired of renovating this hut,” lamented community members, echoing their calls for urgent intervention.
With the future of education in Karpi-ta hanging in the balance, it remains unclear how many students will return to this precarious learning environment.
