Gbarnga, Bong County — Thirty education stakeholders in Bong County have completed a day-long training on anti-corruption and school governance, an initiative organized by the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) to strengthen accountability within the local school system.
The training brought together teachers, principals, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) members, School Management Committees, district education officers, and community representatives. According to Torwon Gensee, Program Officer at CENTAL, the initiative is part of a broader program aimed at deepening stakeholders’ understanding of the Teachers’ Code of Conduct, the 2011 Education Reform Law, and the tools available for reporting corruption in the education sector.
Gensee said the training also seeks to increase public awareness of CENTAL’s corruption reporting mechanisms, including the Corruption Case Tracker and the Reporting Hotline 4432. “The objective is to improve teachers’ capacity by training PTAs, principals, parents, and community dwellers in the use of the Teachers’ Code of Conduct and the Education Law of 2011,” he noted. He added that a similar training will later be held in Kakata, Margibi County.
He emphasized that CENTAL’s Corruption Case Tracker documents cases monitored across sectors such as education, health, and security. “We will be talking about some of those cases today,” he said. “We also want to strengthen local governance by building the capacity of PTAs, principals, teachers, district education officers, and School Management Committees to monitor school performance and hold local authorities accountable.” He further encouraged participants to serve as ambassadors of the knowledge gained by educating others in their respective institutions and communities.
The day’s agenda included sessions on understanding corruption and its societal impact, key provisions of the Teachers’ Code of Conduct and the Education Reform Law, and challenges in enforcing school governance policies. Participants engaged in group work, presentations, and interactive question-and-answer sessions.
Representatives from the PTA Board, the County Education Office, and local schools welcomed the intervention, noting that it supports ongoing efforts to improve school management. A PTA representative clarified that despite recent restructuring, the PTA in Bong County remains active and committed. “Your training to strengthen PTAs, teachers, and educational stakeholders is appreciated,” he said.
Teachers also expressed gratitude. Phillip Mulbah, a participant and Bong County’s Best Teacher, thanked CENTAL for convening stakeholders to openly discuss accountability issues. “Thank you for bringing us together to speak to one another about corruption,” he said.
The training concluded with a session on gender and corruption, followed by closing remarks. CENTAL expressed hope that the knowledge gained will enhance transparency, improve school governance, and empower communities to demand accountability within the educational system.
